Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center

The Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center (RINSC) serves as the headquarters for the Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission. Located on the University of Rhode Island's Bay campus, the RINSC is the home of Rhode Island's sole nuclear reactor.  The RINSC reactor was built in 1960 and went critical in 1964. It is a 2 Mega-Watt, light water cooled, pool type reactor. For over 50 years it has provided valuable data to researchers and students. Over 100 graduate degrees have been awarded for research conducted at the RINSC. Research areas include, Physics, Engineering, Biology, and Atmospheric Chemistry.  The RINSC also serves as a center for education. Tours introduce students of all ages to the field of nuclear science and condensed matter physics. Our internship program allows undergraduate students to work with the RINSC staff to maintain and operate the reactor.   

Along with its research endeavors the RINSC acts as a hands on classroom for students of all ages. The classroom located at the RINSC includes a smartboard for presentations. Adjacent to the classroom is a student laboratory where students can use High Purity Gamma detectors to measure the radioactive attributes of samples that they irradiate during their tour. There are several other lab experiments available for those tour groups desiring to do a lab during their visit to the facility.  Presentations offered by RINSC staff range in topic and complexity from basic radiation and nuclear reaction dynamics for elementary school students to undergraduate courses in nuclear engineering to graduate courses.  The RINSC staff can also assist interested students with science fair projects and high school senior projects. Some of the recent projects we have supported are:

• A study of the effects of gamma irradiation on Vitamin C in strawberries
• A determination of the least damaging motor oil
• A study of the make-up of generic vitamins (how closely does it match the label)