To give New Mexico State University students more opportunity to explore the nuclear field, Mechanical Engineering student Olivia Belina founded the NMSU chapter of the American Nuclear Society.
The NMSU American Nuclear Society has been bringing speakers from across the state to talk to members about their work and introduce to the members current issues in the nuclear field. The program also serves to get students opportunities to find internships in the university.
While Belina has been studying to be a mechanical engineer, she has had insight into the world of nuclear engineering. She said she grew up hearing about nuclear engineering because both of her parents are professionals in that field.
“Growing up, that was the main conversation around the dinner table. It was always there,” Belina said. “All my parents’ friends are nuclear engineers. It was just always around me.”
As she continued throughout her own college career, Belina began to develop her own interest in nuclear engineering and wanted to create an outlet for not only herself, but for any NMSU student interested in exploring nuclear studies.
The program also serves to get students opportunities to find internships in the university.
“Things like that, so that people can get more of an idea of what all goes into nuclear sciences, because there's so many different facets that go into it that a lot of people don’t know kind of exist, Belina said. “So, it's just kind of learning more and building a community of like-minded people who are interested in it.
Going into the upcoming fall semester, Belina discussed how the chapter is planning to continue bringing in professionals in to speak with students and help find doors for students who want to explore nuclear science professionally.
In the upcoming semester, the chapter will be taking part in a chapter wide competition requiring each one to identify and propose a solution to a current issue in any nuclear study.
