Did you know that in addition to the well-known Citizenship, First Aid, and Camping badges the organization is known for, the Boy Scouts of America also offers a Nuclear Science Merit Badge to introduce scouts to the field of nuclear science and technology? Earning this badge requires scouts to learn about nuclear energy, radiation, and how nuclear science is applied in various sectors, including medicine, industry, and power generation.
The requirements of the badge specifically are learning:
-Nuclear Science Basics including the atomic structure, nuclear fission and fusion and understating the types of radiation (alpha, beta, gamma) and radioactive decay.
-The History of Nuclear Science including key moments in nuclear science history, such as the discovery of radiation, nuclear reactors, and the development of atomic bombs.
-Uses of Nuclear Energy including how nuclear reactors work and their role in producing electricity and in other fields like medicine and agriculture.
- Safety and Radiation Protection including measures for handling and being around radiation, plus organizations that regulate and monitor radiation safety, like the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
-Nuclear Science Projects with simple experiments or demonstrations related to nuclear science and
-A Facility Visit where nuclear science is practiced (power plant, research lab, or medical facility) or interview a professional working in the field.
-Exploring careers in nuclear science and engineering, including roles in research, medicine, energy, and defense.
The badge encourages critical thinking and safety awareness, while giving scouts a glimpse into a highly technical and impactful field.
In 2023, there were 138 different badges earned by scouts, with the most earned badge being the Citenship in Society badge, which is also an Eagle-scout required badge. The Nuclear Science badge was the 68th most earned badge, up three places from 71st in 2022. With the Nuclear Renaissance upon us and the importance of nuclear energy becoming increasingly clear, perhaps the Nuclear Science badge will rise to the top 10 in the not-so-distant future.
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