Vision For 2020

The IRPA 13 Congress Organizers are delighted to announce the re-launch of the website for the 13th International Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association. The new website offers an easy-to-navigate design, stylish new look and provides easy access to vital information for delegates, sponsors and exhibitors. Be sure to visit the new IRPA 13 website - www.irpa13glasgow.com where you can register for the Congress.

6 January 2012

This is my last NEWS of my term as President of IRPA. It has been a great honor and pleasure to serve in this position for the past 3-plus years. I have appreciated the opportunity to represent IRPA in many international venues and with many international organizations. I can say that IRPA continues to gain recognition and respect as the International Voice of the Radiation Protection Profession. This will be a continuing challenge for the future. I express my great appreciation and respect for the members of the Executive Council who have served with me during this term. They have contributed many hours of their time to the effective functioning of IRPA, and have given much thought to the vision, goals and strategy of IRPA for the future. It is a great challenge for the next EC to continue to advance along this path. I encourage all of you as members to advocate for the cause and activity of IRPA in your national societies and to offer support for your society members who are actively participating to advance IRPA objectives internationally.

IRPA will need increased financial support and increased participation of its members in the future to advance IRPA as the International Voice of the Radiation Protection Profession.  The IRPA income has not increased substantially in the past 10 years. However, to adequately respond to the requests for IRPA assistance to regional congresses and associate societies as well as collaborations with international organization activities in radiation protection expenses have increased by over 30%. Demands placed on the President were more than I could satisfy personally and I was fortunate to get some support from members of the Executive Council. However, I had no demands from a full-time job. Future Presidents may require more support from IRPA members to fulfill all the necessary time demands for IRPA participation.

Activities for the last half of 2011 focused on preparation for IRPA13 in Glasgow next May. You will see a link at the top of the IRPA Home Page to the IRPA13 Business Program. All the information in preparation for the Congress will be posted there and updated periodically. Of particular interest to members and, especially to official delegates, will be the information about the nominees for election to the Executive Council and the proposals to host future IRPA Congresses.

In July the Executive Council responded positively to an invitation from IAEA for IRPA to participate in the International Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine – Setting the Scene for the Next Decade, 3-7 December 2012. In support of this conference IRPA agreed to fund a representative of IRPA to present a lecture at the conference, support participation of scientists from IRPA Associate Societies in IAEA Member States with low economic resources, and disseminate information about this conference to its members. IRPA is also working with the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization to present a forum on radiation protection in the workplace at the International Conference on Occupational Health in March 2012. IRPA will be represented by Treasurer, Dick Toohey as well as representatives from the Mexican Society and the Health Physics Society. Richard Vetter of the HPS will present a paper on radiation protection and safety culture.

As President I represented IRPA and made presentations at the meeting of the Nordic Society for Radiation Protection in August and at the First International Symposium of the ICRP in October. Bernard LeGuen and I represented IRPA  the ICRP Meeting. Bernard acted as observer for the Committee 4 meetings and I divided my time between Committee 1 and Committee 3. In November I represented IRPA at a meeting of the European Commission Article 31 Group of Experts on radiation Protection. I also attended (at no cost to IRPA) a conference that allowed me to contact several professional congress organizing and association management organizations. This is potentially important to the planning for future operation of IRPA.

Work continued on the guidelines for a radiation protection culture. An initial document will be posted soon for comments by IRPA members and discussion at IRPA13. In addition a new Working Group was formed to develop guidance for establishing a certification process for radiation protection experts, and for assembling guidance on educational requirements and qualifications for radiation protection experts serving in various capacities.

Once again I hope that this report is informative and of interest to you. Please let me know what you think. I also encourage all Associate Societies to share information about their activities. Send your news to Publications Director Dick Griffith for posting. It will be posted in the Associate Society news section of the IRPA website.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Glasgow at IRPA13. The Program as organized by the International Congress Program Committee is outstanding. The venue, the social events and the Congress arrangements in general are fantastic. My great thanks and appreciation go to Roger Coates, Vice President for Congress Affairs, the Glasgow organizing committee and the CONGREX staff for the organization of the Congress; and to Ted Lazo, chair of the ICOC and his committee for reviewing almost 1200 abstracts and a developing the scientific, technical and educational program.

ICNIRP, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, is glad to announce the publication of its Statement on Health Issues Associated with Millimeter Wave Whole Body Imaging Technology in Health Physics 102(1):81‐82; 2012.

The statement is available at the ICNIRP website, http://www.icnirp.org/.

We are very pleased to announce that over 1150 abstracts have already been accepted for the IRPA13 Congress in May 2012.  We have however become aware that there are still colleagues who would like to submit further abstracts, and hence share their experience and knowledge with the international community.  To meet this demand we are re-opening the abstract submission system immediately, and it will remain open until 29 February 2012.  Since the selection of oral presentations has already been completed, any new abstract submissions can only be considered for poster presentation. We hope to be able to confirm acceptance within two weeks of abstract submission.

Delegates are also reminded that the Congress can offer bursary support to selected delegates. Applications must be made via the website [www.irpa13glasgow.com  -  click Registration, click Bursary Applications].  In addition to the normal bursary funding we have been fortunate to secure special funding for delegates with a specific interest in the transport of radioactive material. Applications should be made via the website as above.
•    Additional Poster Abstracts must be submitted by 29 February 2012
•    Authors will be notified of acceptance within two weeks of submission
•    Full papers and poster PDFs must be submitted by 12 March 2012
•    Presenting author registration by 12 March 2012