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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Dr. Harry Lawroski joined the American Nuclear Society (ANS) in 1958. Over a 10 year span he served on the ANS Board of Directors, as treasurer, vice president and president. He served on both the Operations & Power and Fuel Cycle & Waste Management Divisions and was also a member of the ANS Idaho Local Section. Dr. Lawroski was an ANS Fellow.
While at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in Idaho, he made the transition from petroleum refining to nuclear energy by experiences on Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1 (EBR-I), Borax V and Zero Power Reactor (ZPR) III before assisting in the assembling of the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) Reactor. Dr. Lawroski became a supervisor at TREAT, was the technical manager for the design and construction of the ZPR, and the associate director for operations at the EBR II Facility.
After leaving ANL, Dr. Lawroski joined Nuclear Services Corporation and became general manager (GM) of both the Environmental as well as the Quality Assurance Divisions. He left to become the GM of the Technology Division and the Production Division at the chemical processing plant in Idaho, which was operated by Allied Chemical.
He became part of the advisory committee for the stabilization of the reactor involved in the Three Mile Island (TMI) accident. He analyzed the information and prepared the “Report on Transport of Radioactivity from the TMI2 to the Environs” for the President’s Commission on the Accident at TMI.
Dr. Lawroski spent 17 years consulting for utility nuclear facilities on operations, water processing, waste management, and reactor safety committees. He also consulted for the Edison Electric Institute, the Electric Power Research Institute and the U.S. Army and other energy clients.
As a member of ANS, Dr. Lawroski participated in the 1978 visit to the People’s Republic of China. He gave lectures on reactor operations and nuclear fuel reprocessing. In 1980, he led an ANS team of 30 nuclear leaders to China and signed the ANS-PRC Nuclear Society Agreement for Cooperation. At the June 1981 ANS meeting, Dr. Lawroski participated on ABC’s NIGHTLINE for the discussion of the destruction of the Iraq Osirak reactor by the Israel Air Force.
Dr. Lawroski received his BS, MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. He holds two patents in petroleum refining which are held by Standard Oil of New Jersey.
After his retirement in 1996, Dr. Lawroski volunteered in a number of community organizations and received several awards for his efforts.
Dr. Lawroski passed away on January 28, 2023.
Read Nuclear News from July 1980 for more on Harry Lawroski.
