AIKEN — On a recent Saturday morning at the Savannah River Site Museum, a group of Scouts leaned over tables scattered with Geiger counters, hydrogen isotope models and homemade electroscopes. The room buzzed with curiosity as they tested everyday objects for traces of radiation and explored the science that powers everything from medical treatments to electricity generation.
The occasion was the museum’s quarterly Scouting America Nuclear Science Merit Badge class, a program that has steadily grown since its launch in 2018. To date, 271 Scouts have completed the course, traveling from across Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, some driving four or five hours to participate.
Primarily taught by Jim Stafford, an Eagle Scout and museum volunteer with over 40 years experience working on the Savannah River Site, the merit badge class offers an immersive introduction to the fundamentals of nuclear science. Scouts learn how to operate Geiger counters, measuring background radiation and testing common household items. The hands-on activity often surprises participants, who discover that small amounts of naturally occurring radiation are a part of everyday life.
Another highlight of the program is an interactive lesson on half-life, the time it takes for a radioactive substance to decay by half. Through sorting and eating M&Ms, Scouts gain a practical understanding of radioactive decay and how scientists use it in nuclear medicine, energy production and environmental monitoring.
Participants also build their own electroscopes, simple instruments used to detect electric charge and demonstrate the principles behind radiation detection. In addition, they model isotopes of hydrogen (protium, deuterium and tritium) to understand how differences in atomic structure influence an element’s properties and applications.
Beyond experiments and demonstrations, the class introduces Scouts to career pathways in nuclear science. Instructors discuss opportunities in health physics, engineering, environmental science, research and medical technology, emphasizing how nuclear science benefits everyday life through cancer treatments, carbon-free energy, food safety and national security.