Lawrence Johnson (BASc (BSc) '78)

Lawrence Johnson (BASc (BSc) '78)
2004 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year

Lawrence Johnson’s clear and innovative approach to fuel waste technology has established his position as an international leader in the field.

After graduating from the U of L in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science, where he earned the Faculty of Arts and Science Gold Medal, Lawrence Johnson accepted a position at Atomic Energy of Canada. He served 20 years with the company as a scientist for nuclear research and later becoming the department manager, playing a central role in the Canadian Environmental Assessment and Review Process conducted between 1994-97.

In 1999, an opportunity at the National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Nagra) took Lawrence Johnson to Switzerland. He is currently the research and development coordinator for Nagra, involved in the planning and coordination of research projects on radioactive waste repositories. He also manages studies on spent nuclear fuel under disposal conditions, and is responsible for developing new design concepts for disposal canisters. In addition to the cutting-edge work he does at Nagra, Lawrence Johnson is the author of more than 120 publications and is a consultant to numerous waste disposal organizations around the world.