The American Nuclear Society, or ANS, has named ORNL’s Luiz Leal of the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory the recipient of the 2023 Seaborg Medal. The award is a top tier ANS award and is an engraved bronze medal that is presented at the ANS Winter Conference.

Leal is a distinguished researcher in ORNL’s Nuclear Data group in the Fusion and Fission Energy and Science Directorate. Leal led nuclear data and measurement efforts with ORNL’s Linear Accelerator early in his career and is recognized as a leading international expert in the evaluation of nuclear data and development of global data libraries. His work is foundational in supporting nuclear criticality safety and reactor system analyses completed around the world.

Leal is a Fellow of ANS and Reactor Physics Division recipient of the Eugene P. Wigner Reactor Physicist Award in 2016.  

The Seaborg Medal recognizes an individual for outstanding scientific or engineering research achievements associated with the development of peaceful uses of nuclear science. This award honors “excellence worthy of international recognition sustained over a period of time.”