Samuel Miller, a member of Troop 63 in Paris, Kentucky, recently traveled to Florida to participate in a unique opportunity to earn the Nuclear Science merit badge. The workshop, hosted by the Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) Radiochemistry Laboratory, provided scouts with hands-on experience in the field of nuclear science. This marked the fifth time AFTAC has hosted this event to help scouts explore the field of nuclear science.
The day-long event, held on Saturday, October 5th, 2024, at AFTAC, Bldg 10989, Patrick SFB, was open to scouts. Miller was the only scout from outside of Florida to attend.
During the workshop, Miller and 90 other scouts learned about radiation, nuclear fission, and safety from top AFTAC scientists and engineers. They also had the opportunity to build their own cloud chamber to “see” radioactive particles and use instruments to measure radiation.
To earn the merit badge, Miller also had to complete other requirements, such as:
- Explain the difference between radiation exposure and contamination.
- Describe the hazards of radiation to humans, the environment, and wildlife.
- Calculate his approximate annual radiation dose and compare it to that of someone who works in a nuclear power plant.
- Explain the meaning of terms such as atom, nucleus, proton, neutron, electron, quark, isotope, alpha particle, beta particle, gamma ray, X-ray, ionization, radioactivity, radioisotope, and stability.
- Construct 3-D models for the atoms of three isotopes of an element, showing neutrons, protons, and electrons.
- Build an electroscope and show how it works.
- Perform an experiment demonstrating half-life.
- Discuss decay chains.
- Using a radiation survey meter and a radioactive source, show how the counts per minute change as the source gets closer to or farther from the radiation detector.
- Explain how time, distance, and shielding can reduce an individual’s radiation dose.
- Make a drawing showing how nuclear fission happens.
- Explain how a chain reaction could be started and stopped in a nuclear reactor.
- Give an example of how energy from an atom can be used in nuclear medicine, environmental applications, industrial applications, space exploration, and radiation therapy.
Miller said that he was excited to learn about nuclear science and that the workshop was a great experience. He also said that he was proud to be the only scout from outside of Florida to attend.
The Nuclear Science merit badge is one of the more difficult merit badges to earn, but Miller’s hard work and dedication paid off. He is now one of the few scouts in the country to have earned this prestigious award.
Miller’s accomplishment is a testament to his hard work and dedication. It is also a reminder that there are many opportunities available to scouts who are willing to put in the effort.
Troop 63 would like to remind all scouts to look for outstanding opportunities for merit badges and events. An excellent resource is the Scouts BSA Merit Badge Opportunities group on Facebook.