Awards Information
Each year, WM Symposia (WM) and its supporters recognize and present awards to several individuals based on their contributions in radioactive waste and radioactive material management. Below is a list of awards presented at the annual WM Symposia Conference.
NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR WM2025!
To submit your nomination, log into the WM website and select the appropriate WM2025 award button.
NEW! WM Distinguished Service Award
The WM Symposia Distinguished Service Award recognizes a recipient’s leadership in advancing the end state solutions to major radioactive waste challenges, and whose personal actions have contributed to the achievement of project, technical or policy resolutions. The goal of this award is to highlight an individual that has committed a career to bringing knowledge, leadership and closure to the many diverse challenges within the broad radioactive waste field. Its intent is to reward the individual for program management, organization, process and policy actions that have significantly accelerated the ultimate end state solutions to radioactive waste disposition and benefitted the broader radioactive waste management community at large.
This award is sponsored by WM Symposia and is established to recognize programmatic success and distinguish the differences between the current WM/Wendell Weart Lifetime Achievement Award which has historically and primarily emphasized resolution of science and technical challenges in radioactive waste siting and closure.
WM Distinguished Service Award nominations are due by November 1, 2024.
WM Distinguished Service Award nomination information and criteria
WM Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the long-term commitment of the recipient to solving major nuclear waste challenges, which may include education, research, public policy, or implementation of solutions for managing nuclear wastes and whose actions have contributed to the resolution of significant nuclear waste management issues.
Lifetime Achievement Award nominations are due by November 1, 2024.
WM Lifetime Achievement Award nominations information and criteria
WM Fellow Award
WM established the honor of Fellow in 2011. The objective is to recognize volunteers for distinguished contributions to the advancement of radioactive waste and radioactive material management. Elevation to the status of WM Fellow is attained through peer recognition and confirmation by the WM Board of Directors (BOD). Newly elected WM Fellows are formally inducted into WM Fellowship by the President of WM.
Fellow Award nominations are due by July 31, 2024.
Fellow Award nomination information and criteria
WM Young Professional Award
Starting at WM2017, WM will present a new award to recognize “Young Professionals” in our field. The objective is to annually recognize one young professional for their distinguished contributions to the advancement of radioactive waste and radioactive material management. Elevation to the status of “Young Professional” is attained through peer recognition and confirmation by the WM Board of Directors (BOD).
WM Young Professional Award nominations are due by November 1, 2024.
Young Professional Award nomination information and criteria
Program Advisory Committee (PAC) Award
WM established the WM Program Advisory Committee Award to annually recognize an individual whose outstanding contributions have helped make and keep the annual WM Conference the world’s premier conference on the management and disposal of nuclear waste.
PAC Award nominations are due by November 1, 2024.
PAC Award nomination information and criteria
WM/ASME Sarge Ozker Award
Named in honor of M. Sacid (Sarge) Ozker and established in 1980, this award is bestowed for distinguished service and eminent achievement in the commercialization of nuclear power/energy with particular emphasis in the field of radioactive waste management. It is presented by the Nuclear Engineering Division – Radwaste Systems Operating Committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
Best Oral Presentations
WM recognizes the two best oral presentation/papers from the previous year’s conference. The American Nuclear Society (ANS) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) presents an award for the best presentation/papers.
Best Poster Presentations
Judges select the best poster/paper based on technical quality and preparation of the work. Each track selects the best poster/paper for the best of conference.
All questions related to the WM awards should be directed to Billy Morrison, Chair of the WM Honors & Awards Committee. He can be reached by email at wmorrison@energysolutions.com.
View the full list of award winners. Click the WM2024 awards program image below to view this year’s award winners.
