Dear ESD Colleagues, It is my honor to serve as ESD Chair for the 2007-2008 term. The division is planning and involved in many exciting areas, and I urge each member to become involved. It is truly a way make a difference and have a direct impact on the division. I will highlight four key areas for your consideration. 1. Programs and Meetings Of course, the easiest way to support meetings is to attend and participate in the technical sessions. ESD is active in organizing sessions covering a wide range of topics—from “traditional” areas such as environmental monitoring and modeling and emergency preparedness and response to new and emerging issues such as sustainability, and nuclear production of hydrogen (more on this later). Please consider submitting an abstract and making a presentation on a recent project—the success of our sessions rely on contributions from division members. And if you have a topic of particular interest, participating as a member of the program committee is a way to ensure it is presented by organizing and conducting a specialized technical session. 2. Nuclear Production of Hydrogen The Nuclear Production of Hydrogen Working Group was established in November 2005 with ESD as the sponsoring division. The working group has been very active, most recently organizing a successful Topical at the recent ANS Annual Meeting. They If you are interested in this exciting area, I encourage you to contact either Ken Schultz or me. 3. Technical Activities The division is very active in a number of technical areas. These include development of standards, writing ANS position papers and statements, and participation in various international engineering activities related to sustainable development. A new ANS Climate Change Subcommittee has also been formed, led by past ESD chair, Sama Bilbao y Leon. 4. Governance Finally, there are a number of other standing or special subcommittees such as Scholarship and Student Support, Membership, Honors and Awards. These committees serve a vital role in serving the needs of the division as well as students and young professionals. I am pleased to report that ESD has been successful in the formation of the W. Bennett Lewis Award. This is a national-level award and recognizes individual who carries on the pioneering work of Dr. Lewis relating to long-term and sustainable energy needs. More information can be found elsewhere on the ESD page. Remember, that the ESD meetings are held at both the National and Winter ANS Meetings and open to all division members. The Program Committee meets at 8:30 on Sunday Morning, followed by the Executive Committee at 10:00 and the Nuclear Production of Hydrogen Working Group at 12:00. If you’re at one of the national meetings, consider dropping by, saying “Hello,” and becoming involved. I look forward to serving the division and working you in the upcoming year. Pete Fledderman ESD Chair p.fledderman@srs.gov