Robert E. Wilson Award

Dr. Robert E. Wilson (1893-1964), a graduate of the College of Wooster (Ohio) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, author of over 100 technical papers and holder of over 100 patents, recognized for his scientific contributions with three important scientific medals, honorary doctorates from 18 colleges and universities, and election to the National Academies was an outstanding engineer as well a successful executive, rising to chairman of the board and CEO of Standard Oil’s American Oil Company (now part of BP) in 1945.  He retired from a distinguished career in the petroleum industry in 1958 and began his shorter, though equally impactful second career in nuclear energy when he was appointed to the General Advisory Committee of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (USAEC) in 1956 by President Eisenhower.  In 1960, Eisenhower named Dr. Wilson one of five USAEC commissioners, serving until his retirement due to failing health in 1964.  As commissioner, he was instrumental in encouraging the growth of commercial and civil applications of nuclear energy, promoting nuclear technology as an instrument of national policy and an economic benefit to the United States, and supporting cooperative arrangements with friendly nations to develop commercial nuclear power while implementing safeguards to prevent diversion of nuclear materials for military use.  He died of a stroke in Geneva, Switzerland while serving as an official advisor to the U.S. delegation to the 3rd United Nations International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy.  Dr. Wilson has been memorialized by the AIChE NED since 1967 with an annual award for outstanding chemical engineering contributions and achievements in the nuclear industry.  This prestigious award comes with a commemorative plaque, an invitation to address the Division and Institute at the Annual Meeting, and a $1,000 honorarium.