Activity Report: 2010 Nuclear Science Merit Badge Training
4/15/10
Richland Section American Chemical Society
Dear Sirs and Madams,
Thank you for your support of the Nuclear Science merit badge training held on March 20 and 27,
2010 at the WSU Tri-Cities campus (Consolidated Information Center). A total of 28 scouts
representing 15 local and regional(a) troops attended the training session. Most scouts were in
middle school while 5 were in high school. The scouts are required to demonstrate knowledge of
12 different requirements delineated in the Nuclear Science merit badge booklet. During the
course of this training session, the scouts were exposed to at least 10 instructors active in some
aspect of the nuclear science field, helping them to learn and complete these requirements.
After an introductory lecture by Richard Arthur (PNNL) to explain a little about the nucleus and
radiation, the scouts divided into five groups (by grade/education) for rotation through five
specific workstations. They learned about safety with Angie Hall (PNNL), built and watched the
effect of alpha and beta emissions from U ore in cloud chambers with Steve Powers (Areva),
discussed their personal radiation exposure and how we measure exposure with Mike Davis
(Energy Northwest), investigated distance and shielding effects measured from a large variety of
sources available in the community(b) with Richard Arthur, and mapped local, national, and
international nuclear power plants with Frank Roddy (DOE-RL). Each scout was sent home with
a nuclear science merit badge book, the Nuclear Science Chart, dose equivalence chart,
homework, a variety of supporting handouts, and a Civilian Defense vintage Geiger-Mueller
counter (complements of the Eastern Washington Section ANS).
The second day the scouts broke out into their assigned groups for presentation of two of their
homework assignments: oral presentation of their assigned historical figure in nuclear science
(think Marie Curie, Ernest Rutherford, Otto Hahn, Lisa Meitner, Henri Becquerel, etc.) proctored
by Ron Kathryn (WSU, retired); and oral presentation of a career opportunity in a field related to
nuclear science proctored by Don Stewart (Dade Moeller & Associates, Inc.). The scouts made
3-D models of hydrogen isotopes with Ted Hohl (Washington River Protection Solutions) and
discovered the biological effects of radiation exposure with Mark Hulke (CH2M Hill Plateau
Remediation Co.). Gary Troyer led the scouts through the exciting world of fission, chain
reaction, and criticality. The scouts demonstrated knowledge of an extensive list of definitions
through a matching exercise; several scouts scored 100%!(c)
After the second day of intensive morning study, the scouts carpooled to Areva where company
volunteers hosted a pizza lunch, then provided tours through their numerous facilities. Imagine
seeing fuel pellets and fuel rod assemblies!
In the end, 20 scouts completed all requirements to earn the BSA Nuclear Science Merit Badge.
Eight scouts went home with a partial meaning that they could complete the missing
requirements (think undone homework) at their own pace with a merit badge counselor.
(a) Regional troops included Beverly, Pendleton, Goldendale, and Dayton.
(b) Lantern mantles, camera lenses, Fiesta Ware, antique beads, and WWII airplane gauges
(c) ALARA, alpha particle, atom, background radiation, beta particle, contamination, curie and becquerel,
gamma ray, half-life, ionization, isotope, neutron, nuclear energy, nuclear reactor, particle accelerator,
quark, rad and gray, radiation, radioactivity, radon, rem and seivert, and X-ray.
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Activity Report: 2010 Nuclear Science Merit Badge Training
Thanks to your support, the scouts (and several parents(a)) have learned a tremendous amount
about the radioactive world around them. The Nuclear Science merit badge training has now
been offered in this format over the last seven years introducing about 200 scouts to Nuclear
Science.
Background Information
The Tri-Cities offers a unique nexus of Nuclear Science industries and professionals from nuclear
power production (Energy Northwest and Areva), nuclear medicine (Kadlec, Tri-Cities Cancer
Center, and Kennewick General Hospital), linear accelerator (Advanced Medical Isotope
Corporation), and environmental remediation, waste processing, and R&D (plurality of Hanford
contractors and PNNL). Additionally, three major professional societies are active in the TriCities helping to support this program: the Columbia Chapter of the Health Physics Society, the
Richland Section American Chemical Society, and the Eastern Washington Section of the
American Nuclear Society.
Additionally, we have the CREHST museum providing the history of the Hanford project as well
as the interactive displays (CREHST donated one free pass to each scout participant). MESA
sponsored the facilities (WSU CIC) for this event which fits perfectly into the MESA charter
(Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement targeted to middle school students).
Drawing from these resources, few places in the U.S. are as uniquely qualified to put on a training
session as comprehensive and rigorous as what we present.
The Nuclear Science merit badge is one of ~120 merit badges offered by the BSA. Earning merit
badges gives Scouts a glimpse of occupations in the subject area as well as some hands-on
experience under the tutelage of experts in the field. Each merit badge has a different set of
specific requirements. Scouts must earn 21 merit badges to obtain Eagle status.
Sincerely,
Sandra Fiskum and Dave Ottley
Event Organizers
(a) Several parents “participated” by listening from the back of the room. This training session was also of
great interest to them.
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Activity Report: 2010 Nuclear Science Merit Badge Training
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