FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2003
FY03-31
Abelquist Receives Elda E. Anderson Award from Health Physics Society
OAK RIDGE, TENN—Eric W. Abelquist, director of Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education’s Radiological Safety, Assessments, and Training Program, is the 2003 recipient of the Elda E. Anderson Award from the Health Physics Society (HPS) for his knowledge and devotion to health physics. The Elda E. Anderson Award is presented each year to an outstanding young member of the Society for excellence in research or development, discovery or invention, or other significant contributions to the profession of health physics. Abelquist will receive this award at a ceremony held during the Annual HPS Meeting in San Diego, California, July 20-24.
Although Abelquist has worked in a variety of health physics areas, his principal contribution has been the technical development of processes and procedures for decommissioning and radiological surveys. In 1996, Abelquist was part of a team called upon to develop MARSSIM, the Multiagency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual. Years in the making, MARSSIM successfully consolidated the final status survey guidance from four federal agencies (Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Department of Defense, and Environmental Protection Agency) into one guidance document.
Abelquist helped write three chapters of the manual which provides detailed guidance for planning, implementing, and evaluating environmental and facility radiological surveys. MARSSIM has been so successful that Abelquist later contributed to the development of training courses and a software program, COMPASS, that supported and expanded ORISE’s MARSSIM work.
In addition to his work with MARSSIM, Abelquist has also authored or coauthored several other guidance documents for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and in 2001 published a textbook entitled, Decommissioning Health Physics: A Handbook for MARSSIM Users. During his career at ORISE, he has directed more than 25 major survey projects, presented more than 50 MARSSIM training courses, published more than 25 technical research papers, and delivered more than 40 technical presentations at national and international lecture conferences.
Abelquist has served many roles in the HPS. He served on the History Committee for three years as the HPS Archivist, is a contributing editor for the HPS Newsletter, and was recently elected to the HPS Board of Directors. He was president of the East Tennessee Chapter HPS from 2001 to 2002 and was the founder and first president of the HPS Decommissioning Section.
Abelquist holds a bachelor’s degree in Radiological Health Physics and a master’s degree in Radiological Sciences and Protection from the University of Lowell in Lowell, Massachusetts. He became a certified health physicist in 1996. Abelquist and his wife, Sandy, live in Oak Ridge with their children—Alyssa, Elizabeth, and Gunnar.
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is a U.S. Department of Energy institute focusing on scientific initiatives to research health risks from occupational hazards, assess environmental cleanup, respond to radiation medical emergencies, support national security and emergency preparedness, and educate the next generation of scientists. ORISE is managed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities.