The Thérèse Delpech Memorial Award is presented to an individual who has rendered exceptional service to the nongovernmental nuclear policy community. Exceptional service includes major intellectual contributions to critical debates, but it also encompasses the time-consuming and often unrecognized work needed to sustain and strengthen our community: mentoring young women and men, constructively critiquing the work of others, creating fora for discussion, and building expert networks. 

Such activities benefit the community as a whole in its efforts to reduce nuclear dangers. Importantly, the award is also intended to recognize individuals who, through friendship, collegiality, and respect, help mold a collection of individual researchers into a community worthy of the name. In short, the award recognizes exceptional creativity, integrity, humanity, and amity—four qualities embodied by Thérèse Delpech, a long-time strategic adviser to the French Atomic Energy Commission, an author, and a distinguished public intellectual.

The award was presented, for the first time at the 2013 Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference to Amb. Linton F. Brooks.