Michiel Bron awarded Dirk Jacob Veegens Prize

Michiel Bron, who obtained his PhD at FASoS in January 2025, has been awarded the prestigious Dirk Jacob Veegens Prize for his PhD research “The Petro-Atom: A Century of Ubiquitous Oil Involvement in Nuclear Energy.” His research was supervised by Prof. Cyrus Mody and Dr. Vincent Lagendijk.

About his research

Michiel studied how nuclear energy and the oil industry have been closely connected over time. He shows that oil companies and their experts were involved in the development of nuclear energy from the very beginning. This includes their role in the Manhattan Project during the Second World War, uranium mining in different parts of the world, and even today’s debates about nuclear energy.

His research makes clear that new energy sources do not develop on their own. Instead, they are shaped by existing industries and the companies behind them, such as Exxon, Shell, and TotalEnergies. In other words, the shift to new forms of energy is strongly influenced by the people, knowledge, and decisions already present in established sectors like the oil industry.

About the award

The Dirk Jacob Veegens Prize is awarded every two years in recognition of outstanding research in economic, political, and social history. The prize particularly honours work that, from a historical perspective, contributes to a deeper understanding of issues relevant to contemporary society. It is granted by the Koninklijke Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen (KHMW), based on the advice of an appointed committee.

This award recognises the significance and originality of Jacobs’ research and its contribution to ongoing debates about energy transitions and the role of industry in shaping them.