This fellowship provides an opportunity to work in a congressional office for a year. The recipient furnishes advice on nuclear science and engineering matters to a member of Congress and his or her staff.
The goal of the fellowship is to bring a knowledgeable view of nuclear matters to Congress and to act as a resource for Congress in the areas of science and engineering. Loewen is the sixth ANS member to be selected for the Seaborg fellowship.
Loewen will begin his one-year fellowship in January. "My goal is to provide credible information about nuclear science and technology to a member of Congress," Loewen said. He won't know which congressional member he will serve until after November. Loewen feels this is an exciting new way of broadening his service. "All my professional career, I've been of service to the executive branch of government (Navy and DOE). Now I can be of service to the legislative branch," he said.
Loewen applied for the fellowship because much of his education was provided through scholarships, Nuclear Navy training, and a National Science Foundation Grant. "I feel the public should get a return for their investment," Loewen said. He has made that investment worthwhile to the public in a variety of additional ways including visiting elementary and middle schools and mentoring students in the INEEL's fellowship program.
The INEEL is a science-based, multiprogram national laboratory dedicated to advancing the U.S. Department of Energy's strategic goals in the areas of environment, energy, science and national security. It is the home of science and engineering solutions and is operated for the DOE by Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC.