Second Los Alamos National Laboratory Medal award winners selected

Contact: Kevin Roark, knroark@lanl.gov, (505) 665-0582 (02-138)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Dec. 18, 2002 --Laboratory Fellow Louis Rosen and Laboratory Senior Fellow Emeritus George Cowan are the recipients of the 2002 Los Alamos National Laboratory Medal. “Both recipients have earned international accolades for their scientific and professional accomplishments,” said Laboratory Director John Browne, in announcing the medal recipients.

The Los Alamos National Laboratory Medal, instituted in 2001, is the highest honor the Laboratory can bestow on an individual or small group. The first recipients of the award were Noble Laureate Hans Bethe and former Laboratory Director Harold Agnew.

Rosen began his career at the Laboratory in 1944, when he joined the Manhattan Project. “My long association with the Lab has been as intellectually rewarding as any job can be, due in good measure to my very gifted colleagues as well as to a highly supportive spouse. I was fortunate to have both,” said Rosen.

Rosen will receive the medal in recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions to the Laboratory and to the nation. His early work in neutron cross-section measurements and nuclear-test diagnostics set the standard for the Laboratory. In the early 1960s through the 1980s, Rosen’s leadership of the diversification of Los Alamos led to the successful development of the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility as a premier nuclear-physics facility for the nation and for the world. Throughout the Cold War period, Rosen was also a great spokesperson for continuing relationships with scientists from the former Soviet Union and China as a means of reducing tensions and improving understanding.

Rosen received the E.O. Lawrence Award in 1963 and many other awards and honors throughout his career. His work as a Laboratory, community and national leader has brought great distinction to the Laboratory, and it is for this reason that Rosen is a 2002 medal recipient.

Cowan came to the Laboratory in late 1945, where he also joined those working on the Manhattan Project. “I was lucky to have worked at the Lab during a historic period, and I never lacked resources or competent associates,” he added.

Cowan is recognized for being the driving force in the early radiochemical evaluations of nuclear weapons and used nuclear-weapon tests to undertake some key scientific investigations. Cowan was awarded the E. O. Lawrence Award in 1965 and the prestigious Fermi Award in 1990 for his contributions during his career as a nuclear scientist. Cowan was an avid spokesperson for science at the Laboratory throughout his career. His service on the White House Science Council from 1982 to 1986 was invaluable to the debates on national security.

Cowan also was a past president and founder of the Santa Fe Institute and a science board member of the institute. Cowan became a Senior Fellow at the Laboratory in 1981 and is currently a Laboratory Senior Fellow Emeritus. As a Laboratory, community and national leader, he has brought great distinction and recognition to the Laboratory. Cowan’s sustained level of service and achievement earned him the 2002 Los Alamos National Laboratory Medal.

Rosen and Cowan will be honored at a formal award ceremony in 2003. The ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Laboratory’s 60th anniversary celebration.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and national security concerns.

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