ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Mar 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
April 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Going Nuclear: Notes from the officially unofficial book tour
I work in the analytical labs at one of Europe’s oldest and largest nuclear sites: Sellafield, in northwestern England. I spend my days at the fume hood front, pipette in one hand and radiation probe in the other (and dosimeter pinned to my chest, of course). Outside the lab, I have a second job: I moonlight as a writer and public speaker. My new popular science book—Going Nuclear: How the Atom Will Save the World—came out last summer, and it feels like my life has been running at full power ever since.
VIEW RECIPIENTSSUBMIT NOMINATION
Nomination Deadline
March 1
Presented at the
Annual or Winter Conference
Monetary Award
$1,000
The W. Bennett Lewis Award recognizes individuals who have made major lifetime contributions in nuclear science and engineering towards minimizing environmental footprint, attaining long-term global sustainable energy and development, and having shown great foresight in elucidating these goals as recorded in archival publications. Nominees need not be ANS members. Not awarded posthumously.
The award consists of an engraved plaque and may be accompanied by a monetary gift to be decided by the DESD Executive Committee at its discretion. It is presented at a DESD function at either the ANS Annual or Winter Conferences.
This award was established by the Decommissioning & Environmental Sciences Division (formerly Environmental Sciences Division) in 2006 to honor Dr. W. Bennett Lewis, a visionary who understood the importance of providing a clean and abundant source of energy to support the world population for generations to come.
Nominations must include the completed nomination form accompanied by the following supporting documents:
Nominations should include evidence of having made major lifetime contributions in nuclear science and engineering towards attaining long-term global sustainable energy and development and having shown great foresight as recorded in archival publications.
Nominations are submitted to the chair of the DESD Honors and Awards Committee.
View Award