The American Nuclear Society (ANS) has recognized two nuclear researchers, Julie G. Ezold and Yutai Katoh, both of the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, at its annual Winter Meeting and Nuclear Technology Expo, held in Washington, D.C.
Ezold, of ORNL’s Isotope and Fuel Cycle Technology Division, received the E. Gail de Planque Medal for the advancement of radioisotope production that led to the synthesis of new elements, and for contributions to space exploration and to the training of a new generation of nuclear scientists. Ezold has been an ANS member since 1992.
The de Planque Medal recognizes exemplary accomplishments by a woman in nuclear science and engineering. The ANS established the award in honor of the late E. Gail de Planque, a former commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and ANS president, who helped influence public policy on nuclear and environmental issues.
Katoh, who works in ORNL’s Materials Science and Technology Division, received the Mishima Award, which honors the late Yoshitsugu Mishima, professor at the University of Tokyo, and recognizes outstanding contributions in research and development work on nuclear fuels and materials.
An ANS fellow since 2015, Katoh was recognized for his work developing nuclear-grade ceramic composites, “elevating them from laboratory curiosity to engineering materials of importance through the application of fundamental materials science.”
ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. DOE’s Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit https://energy.gov/science.
