For 45 years, the annual awards have recognized excellence in scientific research and service
Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Environmental Sciences Division (ESD) presented the organization’s annual Distinguished Achievement Awards on October 27. Now in its 45th year, the awards recognize staff who have significantly advanced the division’s mission and enriched its culture.
The Stanley I. Auerbach Award for Excellence was presented to Phong Le for scientific excellence, innovation, and leadership in developing data-driven models to address environmental challenges. The award recognized Le’s contributions in hydrology, disease ecology, and open-source modeling, as well as for mentorship and editorial service.
The Auerbach Award, honoring ESD’s founding division director and a champion of modern ecological science, recognizes high-quality, creative scientific contributions in support of basic research, technology development, or analysis, as demonstrated by publication in peer-reviewed journals of high reputation or by significant impact through application of science to solve complex environmental challenges.
ESD’s Science Serving Society Award was presented to the Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program (BMAP). The program was recognized for four decades of innovation, excellence, and societal impact in environmental monitoring, remediation, and community engagement.
The Science Serving Society Award recognizes projects, initiatives, and staff that have demonstrable impacts on policy development, environmental management, or decision-making within public or private organizations and institutions. Such work provides evidence of tangible returns on R&D investment with respect to improving social, economic, and ecological well-being.
The Post-Graduate Research Award was presented to Bryan Bozeman for significant impact across ORNL and partner agencies, for elevating ORNL’s profile through projects and service, and for exemplifying exceptional work ethic, productivity, and quality.
The Post-Graduate Research Award recognizes a scientist who has made unique and important contributions to ESD research, technology development or analysis. This can include significant contributions as exemplified by publications, posters, databases, computational tools or models, team productivity, or innovative new methods.
ESD’s Research Support Award was bestowed on two recipients this year. Misha Krassovski was recognized for far-reaching impact on ORNL’s science and colleagues’ careers, and for exemplifying versatility and the ORNL core values of teamwork and safety, especially in large-scale field experiments. Fengming Yuan was recognized for exemplary support and mentorship of researchers on complex models across multiple projects, and for consistently exceeding expectations in guiding early-career researchers with responsiveness, patience, and care.
The Research Support Award honors critical contributions to ESD science in areas of laboratory, field, and data support; and safety and operations.
The Administrative Support Person of the Year Award was presented to Amber Bristow, recognizing her exceptional dedication, professionalism, and support, setting a standard of excellence within ESD.
The Administrative Support Award honors staff who provide critical contributions to ESD science. The award focuses on outstanding performance over the past year or sustained contributions over several years.
UT-Battelle manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory for DOE’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, visit https://energy.gov/science. —Stephanie Seay
