Monday 29 November 2021

Athanasia Tzelepi from the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) has been awarded the 2021 Institute of Physics Dennis Gabor Medal and Prize.

The Institute of Physics (IOP) is the professional body and learned society for physics, and the leading body for practising physicists, in the UK and Ireland.

Its annual awards proudly reflect the wide variety of people, places, organisations and achievements that make physics such an exciting discipline.

The IOP awards celebrate physicists at every stage of their career; from those just starting out through to physicists at the peak of their careers, and those with a distinguished career behind them.

They also recognise and celebrate companies which are successful in the application of physics and innovation, as well as employers who demonstrate their commitment and contribution to scientific and engineering apprenticeship schemes.

Athanasia received the award for her significant and sustained contributions to the management of graphite in nuclear reactors, providing key technical expertise and advice supporting continued operation and decommissioning of the UK reactor fleet.

Athanasia Tzelepi, Graphite Capability Manager, Fellow in Graphite Technology and PIE (post irradiation examination) at the National Nuclear Laboratory, said: “I am truly honoured to receive this award. I feel privileged to be working with the exceptional scientists and engineers and remarkable professionals in our industry.

“It was my colleagues’ integrity and scientific zeal, at the start of my career, that inspired my passion for nuclear graphite technology and, it feels great to be recognised for my hard work in this area.”

Congratulating this year’s award winners, Institute of Physics President, Professor Sheila Rowan, said: “On behalf of the Institute of Physics, I warmly congratulate all of this year’s Award winners. Each and every one of them has made a significant and positive impact in their profession, whether as a researcher, teacher, industrialist, technician or apprentice.

“Recent events have underlined the absolute necessity to encourage and reward our scientists and those who teach and encourage future generations. We rely on their dedication and innovation to improve many aspects of the lives of individuals and of our wider society.”

Find out more information about the IOP Awards here

The Institute of Physics (IOP)

The Institute of Physics (IOP) is the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland. It seeks to raise public awareness and understanding of physics, inspire people to develop their knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of physics and support the development of a diverse and inclusive physics community. As a charity, it has a mission to ensure that physics delivers on its exceptional potential to benefit society.

The Institute of Physics (IOP) Awards

The IOP Awards proudly reflect the wide variety of people, places, organisations and achievements that make physics such an exciting discipline. They celebrate people at every stage of their career, from those just starting out through to those at their peak. They also recognise and celebrate companies which are successful in the application of physics and innovation, as well as employers that demonstrate their commitment and contribution to scientific and engineering apprenticeship schemes.