One doesn’t have to be a woman to get involved with NC State’s branch of Women in Nuclear (WiN). The national organization is mostly women, but the focus is on volunteering, outreach and encouraging women in STEM. WiN is fairly new at NC State — Kalene Hanson, a senior studying industrial engineering, founded the organization in 2013.
Amber Robinson, a senior studying nuclear engineering and treasurer of WiN, has been with the organization from the get-go.
“The treasurer graduated that spring and they put me in — I’ve been with the organization ever since,” Robinson said. “I’m going to be very sad [when I graduate] in the spring.”
The entire board is composed of seniors this year. It’s been challenging to recruit underclassmen, as they have to juggle their courses and are hesitant to join a lot of organizations.
Still, for a major as small as nuclear, the club is fairly large — around 90 students are members, according to Robinson.
As of late, the club has boosted recruitment by arranging more events focused on the students. On “WiN Wednesdays,” the club eats at Mitch’s Tavern for dinner. At the end of the semester, there will be a group cookout.
“We’re all very close; we all know each other,” said Nicholas Herring, chapter president and a senior studying nuclear engineering.
The club encourages students from all majors to join, as they can develop leadership skills and can improve their resumes.
“We did a workshop this semester, where people from all majors learned basic programming skills that they don’t necessarily learn in the classes,” Herring said. “They learned how to solve problems with the programming languages. We taught concepts that we wish we had known; we’re all seniors. We had a fairly good turnout, considering it’s a ‘school thing’ on top of existing schoolwork.”
Other perks of the club include opportunities via outreach events and volunteering. Earlier in the year, the club went to two different middle schools to build atom models out of gummy bears and marshmallows.
“We did it in a lab with them and they were extremely well behaved, which made it fun,” Robinson said. “We taught them about fission and nuclear reactors. Hearing them ask intelligent questions about nuclear at such a young age and show enthusiasm was really encouraging.”
While Rebeka Gottfried, a senior studying nuclear engineering and vice president of WiN hasn’t been to an outreach, she’s volunteered at the McKimmon Center. For the annual “Future City Competition,” middle schoolers construct sustainable cities out of recyclable materials and present them before a panel of judges.
“We got to interact with the kids who are so excited about their project — they want to tell you every little detail,” Gottfried said.
The club volunteers primarily with the nuclear department and as well as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, who earn their nuclear science badges. Other events include painting the Free Expression Tunnel and attending the regional Women in Nuclear Conference.
For those who are interested in the conference, NC State’s chapter covers the cost and travels. Next spring, it’ll be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“The regional conference is a great networking opportunity,” Gottfried said. “We’re one of the few student chapters; the last time we went, there were no students except for us, so everyone was interested in talking to us.”
WiN also works in conjunction with the American Nuclear Society at NC State, which features guest speakers in the industry. Whether students are in nuclear engineering or not, the club provides numerous opportunities.
“It’s a great way to introduce yourself and get to know other people in the major; you’re going to spend a lot of time together, so you might as well have some fun,” Robinson said.
To get involved with WiN, contact win.ncsu@gmail.com or visit its Facebook page.
