Campus Honors Stubbins with Media Relations Award

The University of Illinois has recognized Jim Stubbins, head of the Department of Nuclear, Plasma,and Radiological Engineeirng (NPRE), with the campus Media Relations Award for his professional and cooperative response to the media following the nuclear reactor disaster that arose from Japan’s earthquake and tsunami last March. Stubbins is the first faculty member to have won this campus award.

Since the disaster, Stubbins has spent numerous hours in media interviews to help the public better understand possible dangers resulting from the Fukushima nuclear accident. In addition, the NPRE Department quickly responded within a few days of the catastrophe by inviting all of campus to a seminar in which Stubbins and NPRE Profs. Rizwan Uddin and Clifford Singer explained the chain of events and gave expert advice on what could be expected. Over 300 people attended.

According to the University’s Office of Public Affairs, Stubbins “has been a brand ambassador for the campus across the nation and all around the world. When an earthquake devastated Japan in March of this year, the News Bureau needed an expert source to help media understand what the storm would mean for nuclear reactors and nuclear safety.

“As big stories often do, this one happened on a Friday, and it was clear that whoever answered the call would be fielding reporters’ questions all that day and well into the weekend.

“And that’s exactly what happened. Our news bureau director, Jeff Unger, reached out to Prof. Jim Stubbins, who graciously agreed to help us. Over the next several days, he conducted interviews with dozens of media outlets – large, small, national, local, international, newspaper, radio, television, internet – and with each one he patiently explained the science involved in nuclear reactors. He was quoted by CBS News, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, the Huffington Post, KMOX radio, Global News Online out of Toronto, the New Zealand Herald, the Hindu of India and many, many more.

“For many news organizations, Professor Stubbins and the University of Illinois became the go-to source for accurate and understandable explanations of what was happening in our world.

“(Professor Stubbins) continued to appear in follow-up stories for weeks and weeks, and he’s maintained his composure and professionalism no matter who is calling or what they might ask, and he meets reporters’ tight – and often inconvenient – deadlines every time.

“He is our Media Relations hero.”

The Media Relations Award is one of the Awards for Campus Marketing Excellence (ACME) presented annually to members of the campus community in recognition of outstanding efforts in sharing with the public the tremendous impact of the University of Illinois. The Office of Public Affairs (by the Associate Chancellor for Public Affairs) presents the awards in six categories, with recipients drawn from campus-wide nominations.

The ACME Awards have been presented since 2008. Award categories include: Media Relations, Crisis Communications, Team Player, Innovation in Marketing & Communicator of the Year.
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Contact: James Stubbins, head, Department ofNuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, 217/333-6474 .

Writer: Susan Mumm, coordinator, Alumni Relations & Development Office, Department of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering, 217/244-5382.

If you have any questions about the College of Engineering, or other story ideas, contact Rick Kubetz, editor, Engineering Communications Office, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 217/244-7716.