Susan O’Donnell wins 7th Annual Beth McLaughlin Environmental Journalism Award

Dr. Susan O’Donnell, the lead investigator at the University of New Brunswick’s RAVEN (Rural Action and Voices for the Environment) project, is this year’s first-place recipient of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick South East Chapter’s Annual Beth McLaughlin Environmental Journalism Award.

Dr. O’Donnell receives the award, given since 2015 in recognition of in-depth reporting and thoughtful coverage of environmental issues in New Brunswick, for her video, More Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) for New Brunswick?, which gives an overview of New Brunswick’s two proposed nuclear reactors, their impacts on climate action, the financial risks involved, and challenges the ongoing narrative that radioactive waste can be “recycled.” 

“I spent many hours putting my presentation together after hundreds of hours reading peer-reviewed research and speaking with experts and activists in Canada and the US,” said Dr. O’Donnell during a recorded acceptance speech.

“I started this research because of the climate crisis. You all know about the IPCC reports, including the most recent in August this year, that the United Nations called a ‘Code Red’ for humanity. We need to rapidly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions now using proven energy technologies, and not new designs for experimental technologies that may never work to generate energy.”

Dr. O’Donnell concluded her remarks by highlighting the need for credible analysis by independent experts, including the significant environmental and financial risks regarding the proposed nuclear reactors.

Dr. O’Donnell thanked several nuclear experts and New Brunswickers for sharing their knowledge and insight into the topic, including Dr. Gordon Edwards, President of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility; Dr. M. V. Ramana from the University of British Columbia; Dr. Frank Von Hippel from Princeton University; and Dr. Ed Lyman from the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, whose recent publication on advanced reactors, Advanced isn’t always better, details the many technical problems related to the proposed reactors for New Brunswick.

Lindsey Jones, a Nova Scotia-based reporter, also received an honourable mention for her article, Could 80,000 Family Woodlot Owners be the Key to Saving the Acadian forest?, published in The NarWhal.

Beth McLaughlin, the founder of the Southeast Chapter of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, was a teacher, writer, social activist, and active citizen. The Southeast Chapter presents this award annually in her memory.