2022 Spring Conferment of Decoration

    On 29 April 2022, the Government of Japan announced the conferment of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon on Mr Malcolm Crick, former Secretary of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), in recognition of his contribution to helping the public better understand scientific findings about radiation effects, including those related to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

    Mr. Crick served as Secretary of the UNSCEAR from 2005 to 2017. When a devastating tsunami hit the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Station after the 2011 Great East-Japan Earthquake, Mr. Crick quickly recognized the importance of a correct understanding by the public of the effect of radiation based on scientific evidence. Taking advantage of his previous experience working on the safety assessment after the Chernobyl accident in 1986. UNSCEAR started assessments of the levels and effects of radiation exposure due to the Fukushima-Daiichi NPS accident.

    In April 2014, UNSCEAR published the first report that evaluated the level and impact of radiation exposure as a result of the Fukushima Daiichi NPS accident. The report was favourably received by the public, as scientific and impartial information provided by an international organization.

    Mr. Crick made special efforts in disseminating the scientific knowledge on radiation effects summarized in the UNSCEAR report to the Japanese public, through organizing briefing sessions for the press and local residents in the Fukushima area, as well as seminars at universities including the United Nations University in Tokyo. His efforts as Secretary of UNSCEAR were instrumental in dispelling misunderstandings about nuclear radiation and in mitigating adverse impacts due to scientifically unfounded reputation damage related to the Fukushima area.

    Mr. Malcolm Crick retired as Secretary of UNSCEAR in 2017, however, his work and vision continued. In March 2021, ten years after the Fukushima accident, UNSCEAR published a revised version of the report based on the newest scientific information. The updated report concluded that radiation-linked increases in cancer rates were not expected to be seen. His belief in a scientific approach has established the foundation of UNSCEAR activities to this day, and it has been supporting people who still suffer from scientifically unfounded reputation damage in Fukushima.

    The Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna extends its sincere congratulations to Mr Malcolm Crick on the Conferment.


Links:

Decorations and Medals in Japan (Cabinet Office)
https://www8.cao.go.jp/shokun/en/index-e.html
Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals (MOFA)
https://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/info/conferment/index.html