At this year's U.S. Women in Nuclear (U.S. WIN) conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Purdue chapter was honored with the Overall Excellence Award for the student chapter division. This marks the second consecutive year that the chapter has received this prestigious accolade.

Morgan Smith, Sophia Schick, and Jennah Bari, students at the Purdue University School of Nuclear Engineering, represented Purdue's WIN chapter at the conference and accepted the award on the chapter's behalf. The overall Excellence Award recognizes the chapter's commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in nuclear engineering while actively advocating for the advancement of nuclear energy and technology. The achievement highlights the dedication and passion of the Purdue WIN members in shaping a more inclusive and innovative future for the nuclear industry.

U.S. Women in Nuclear is a national organization comprising individuals working in a variety nuclear energy and technology fields across the United States. The organization is driven by a vision aimed at achieving several critical objectives: attracting a diverse workforce to pursue professions and trades in nuclear, fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging to retain a diverse workforce, creating professional development opportunities for career advancement and inspiring advocacy and public support for the advancement of nuclear energy and technologies.

The Purdue University WIN chapter actively supports both women and men working in nuclear-related fields and shares the same core objectives as U.S. WIN. Purdue WIN focuses on promoting diversity and inclusion in the Purdue University School of Nuclear Engineering, ensuring a voice for female and minority students in nuclear engineering and other nuclear fields and providing resources and opportunities for professional growth and development.

Purdue WIN's commitment to the advancement of nuclear energy goes beyond academic and organizational boundaries. On January 20^th, 2022, Liz Bramer and Morgan Smith, along with a delegation of their peers, testified before the Senate Utilities Committee at the Indiana State House, in support of Senate Bill 271.

The proposed Senate Bill 271 is designed to establish a framework for the construction in Indiana of Small Modular Reactors, which could bring economic growth and clean energy into the state. This bill represents a crucial step towards taking full advantage of the environmental and economic benefits of nuclear energy in Indiana, where nuclear power is not yet produced.

Purdue University's Women in Nuclear chapter continues to shine as a symbol of excellence and advocacy in the nuclear industry. Their commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion and development of nuclear energy is more than admirable; it is essential for shaping the future of this important sector. 

Congratulations to the WIN chapter for their well-deserved recognition and continued efforts to make nuclear technology more accessible and sustainable for all.

U.S. Women in Nuclear: About Us – U.S. Women In Nuclear (winus.org)

Purdue Women in Nuclear: Women in Nuclear - Nuclear Engineering (purdue.edu)

Indiana Senate Bill Hearing: Purdue WIN Leads Student Delegation in Indiana Senate Bill Hearing on SMRs – U.S. Women In Nuclear (winus.org)

Source: Jennah Bari jbari@purdue.edu

Author: Ryan Ward ward248@purdue.edu