E. Gail de Planque
American nuclear physicist (1944–2010)
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Eileen Gail de Planque (also Eileen Gail de Planque Burke, best known as E. Gail de Planque; 1944 – September 8, 2010) was an American nuclear physicist. An expert on environmental radiation measurements, she was the first woman and first health physicist to become a commissioner at the US government's Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).[3] Her technical areas of expertise included environmental radiation, nuclear facility monitoring, personnel dosimetry, radiation shielding, radiation transport, and solid state dosimetry.[4][5]
Eileen Gail de Planque | |
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| Born | 1944 |
| Died | September 8, 2010 (aged 65–66) |
| Other name | Eileen Gail de Planque Burke |
| Alma mater | |
| Known for |
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| Spouse | Frank Burke |
| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Nuclear physics |
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Career
Born in New Jersey and raised in Maryland,[1] Planque earned her bachelor's degree from Immaculata College (mathematics, 1967), master's degree from the Newark College of Engineering (physics, 1973), and PhD from New York University (environmental health science, 1983).[5][6] From 1967 until 1982, she worked as a physicist for the Atomic Energy Commission.[7] She joined the Environmental Measurements Laboratory, US Department of Energy, as its deputy director in 1982, and was promoted to director five years later. From 1991 to 1995, she was a member of the NRC. In 1997, Planque chaired a planning committee, Celebration of Women in Engineering, which developed conferences that encouraged women to choose careers in engineering and included the development of the website EngineerGirl.[5]
A fellow of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Planque was also a member of the National Academy of Engineering,[8] the Association of Women in Science, and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. In the late 1970s, Planque was a US expert delegate to the international committee for Development of an International Standard on Thermoluminescence Dosimetry.[5]
Planque served as president of the ANS from 1988 to 1989[1] the Health Physics Society, as well as Strategy Matters, Inc.[citation needed] She was Co-Chair of Committee for International Intercomparison of Environmental Dosimeters[citation needed] and director for Energy Strategists Consultancy, Ltd.[citation needed] She also served on the boards of Northeast Utilities Corporation, British Nuclear Fuels, EnergySolutions, Inc., Landauer, Inc., TXU Corporation, and BHP Billiton.[9]
Personal life
Planque was married to Frank Burke.[10] She lived in New York City,[11] and Potomac, Maryland.[12] She died in 2010.[2]
Awards
- Women of Achievement in Energy award [1] (1990)
- Outstanding Woman Scientist of the Year award [2] (1991)
- Henry DeWolf Smyth Award for Nuclear Statesmanship (2003)
- Women in Technology International Hall of Fame inductees (2004)