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CORVALLIS - The American Nuclear Society has awarded the Oregon State University student chapter of this organization a $1,000 Nuclear Engineering Education for the Disadvantaged, or NEED, grant for increasing the diversity of students who study nuclear science.

"We're rather broadly applying this to middle school students who might eventually apply to a nuclear science program," said Kati Gray, OSU student chapter president and senior in nuclear engineering. "We will organize a Girl Scout version of the Boy Scout Atomic Merit Badge, buy supplies to make outreach kits, and purchase a cloud chamber."

OSU students have made several presentations to middle school audiences, with a talk entitled "The Footprints of Radiation," and won an ANS award in Public Policy and Outreach for their efforts.

"We are really excited to be awarded with this grant, and it will be great to be able to get more involved with the local community and to help these girls see the great possibilities that await them in engineering," said Sarah Kleeb, also a senior in nuclear engineering.

The grant will facilitate future outreach efforts, providing funds for electronics to make old civil defense radiation detectors audible and more useful in presentations.