Deadline is August 31, 2020

As a reminder, the Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management is accepting nominations for the 2021 Richard S. Hodes, M.D. Honor Lecture Award — a program that recognizes an individual, company, or organization that contributed in a significant way to improving the technology, policy, or practices of low-level radioactive waste management in the United States.  The award recipient will present the innovation being recognized at a lecture during the Waste Management ’21 Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona.  The award recipient will receive a $5,000 honorarium and all travel expenses will be paid.

The nomination packet is attached, for your information and convenience.  Nominations must be received by August 31, 2021. 

Background

Dr. Richard S. Hodes was a distinguished statesman and a lifetime scholar.  He was one of the negotiators of the Southeast Compact law, in itself an innovative approach to public policy in waste management.  He then served as the chair of the Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management from its inception in 1983 until his death in 2002.  

Throughout his career, Dr. Hodes developed and supported innovation in medicine, law, public policy, and technology.  The Richard S. Hodes, M.D. Honor Lecture Award was established in 2003 to honor the memory of Dr. Hodes and his achievements in the field of low-level radioactive waste management.  

Past Recipients

The following individuals and entities are past recipients of the Richard S. Hodes, M.D. Honor Lecture Award:

•     W.H. “Bud” Arrowsmith (2004);

•     Texas A & M University Student Chapter of Advocates for Responsible Disposal in Texas (2004 honorable mention);

•     William Dornsife (2005);

•     California Radioactive Materials Management Forum (2006);

•     Larry McNamara (2007); 

•     Michael Ryan (2008);

•     Susan Jablonski (2009); 

•     Larry Camper (2010); 

•     Christine Gelles (2011); 

•     Lawrence “Rick” Jacobi (2012); 

•     James Kennedy (2013); 

•     EnergySolutions, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD), and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Global Threat Reduction Initiative (2013 honorable mention); 

•     Electric Power Research Institute (2014); 

•     Division of Radiation Control of the Utah DEQ and EnergySolutions (2015); 

•     Louis Centofanti (2016);

•     Scott Kirk (2017);

•     National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Off-Site Source Recovery Program (OSRP) (2018);

•     Clint Miller of Pacific Gas & Electric (2019); and

•     Savannah River Remediation LLC (2020).

The Award

The Richard S. Hodes Honor Lecture Award — established in March, 2003 — is awarded to an individual, company, or organization that contributed in a significant way to improving the technology, policy, or practices of low-level radioactive waste management in the United States.  

The award recipient will be recognized with a special plaque and an invitation to present a lecture about the innovation during the annual international Waste Management Symposium (WM ’21).  The 2021 symposium is sponsored by the University of Arizona and will be held in Phoenix, Arizona in the spring of 2021.  

A special time is reserved during the Symposium for the lecture and the award presentation. The Southeast Compact Commission will provide the award recipient a $5,000 honorarium and will pay travel expenses and per diem (in accordance with Commission Travel Policies) for an individual to present the lecture.  

Criteria

The Richard S. Hodes Honor Lecture Award recognizes innovation industry-wide.  The award is not limited to any specific endeavor — contributions may be from any type of work with radioactive materials (nuclear energy, biomedical, research, etc.), or in any facet of that work, such as planning, production, maintenance, administration, or research.  The types of innovations to be considered include, but are not limited to:

•     conception and development of new approaches or practices in the prevention, management, and regulation of radioactive waste;

•     new technologies or practices in the art and science of waste management; and,

•     new educational approaches in the field of waste management.

The criteria for selection include:

1.   Innovation.  Is the improvement unique? Is it a fresh approach to a standard problem? Is it a visionary approach to an anticipated problem?

2.   Safety.  Does the practice enhance radiation protection?

3.   Economics.  Does the approach produce significant cost savings to government, industry or the public?

4.   Transferability.  Is this new practice applicable in other settings and can it be replicated?  Does it increase the body of technical knowledge across the industry?

Eligibility

To be eligible for the award, the individual/group must consent to being nominated and must be willing to prepare and present a lecture about the innovation being recognized at the Waste Management Symposium.  Individuals or organizations can nominate themselves or another individual, company, institution, or organization.  

Nominations

To nominate yourself or another individual, company, or organization for this distinguished award, please contact:

Awards Committee
c/o Ted Buckner

Executive Director
Southeast Compact Commission
Post Office Box 5427
Cary, NC 27512
(919) 380-7780

(919) 380-7710 – FAX
tedb@secompact.org

or visit the Southeast Compact Commission’s website at http://www.secompact.org/.