Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) is celebrating the achievements of Ottawa Valley innovators whose expertise is helping Canada address some of today’s most complex scientific and technological challenges.
At the 2025 Awards of Excellence, several local employees were honoured nationally for their dedication, ingenuity, and teamwork in advancing priorities in nuclear science and technology — from environmental protection and clean energy to cutting-edge health research. Among them was James Harrington, Section Head for Operational Health Physics whose Radiation Protection team are redefining how the nuclear sector understands and manages high-energy alpha contamination. James gives us a brief description of what he and his Team are primarily concerned with:
The project led by Diane Aube and Harrington earned a Distinguished Merit Award for identifying opportunities to strengthen international safety assumptions and developing new processes that could shape radiation-protection standards worldwide. James and his Team have re-opened a long standing argument about what radiation can and can’t do and his team’s work has the scientific community listening:
Harrington notes that much more study is going to be necessary before there can be concrete evidence to support the theory but for now it is enough for the scientific community to take serious notice of the work being done right here on in our own back yard.
These awards underline how major national advancements are being driven by local experts whose curiosity, skill, and commitment to safety continue to create impacts far beyond the Ottawa Valley.
(Written By: Richard Evans)