The International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements has recently elected Commission member, Hans Menzel, to replace Paul DeLuca as Chairman.  Prof. DeLuca asked to step down because of increasing demands on his time as Provost and Vice Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He will continue as a member of the Commission, and act as consultant to Report Committees and on other relevant matters.

Dr. Menzel has a record of accomplishments, distinguished service, and leadership with both the European Commission and CERN. He has a profound knowledge of ICRU affairs, having been a member since 1993. He is also a member of the Main Commission of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and Chairman of ICRP Committee 2 (Doses from Radiation Exposure). He has provided and will continue to provide an excellent link between ICRU and ICRP as well as other related organizations. For additional information, please see the ICRU Web Site.

The Proceedings of the 12th International Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA 12) held in Buenos Aires, Argentia, October, 2008, are now available on-line.  They have been prepared by the IAEA, and will be available in hardcopy and on a companion CD-ROM. The Proceedings can be downloaded from the IRPA Reports and Documents page.

AOCRP-3 was held in Tokyo in May, with 487 participants from 31 countries. 64 oral and 189 poster presentations in 12 different themes and 29 special presentations including 9 refresher courses and 8 luncheon seminars were made. Selected papers will be published as a supplement of “Radiation Protection Dosimetry” journal. 3 student sessions were also organized. There were 9 Japanese exhibitions and 5 overseas exhibitions.

IRPA Associated Societies Forum was held on 25 May.  Mr. Kenneth R. Kase, President of IRPA, introduced the IRPA Strategy with the emphasis of the recent IRPA initiative on Radiation Protection Culture by welcoming the Asian regional workshop on Radiation Protection Culture, which is scheduled to be held on 24 November 2010 in Korea. Mr. Jacques Lochard, IRPA Executive Officer, presented remarks on the IRPA Rules Changes to adapt the revision of the IRPA Charter to clarify the terms of the references of IRPA committees, procedures for E.C. member election and IRPA Congress venue selection.  IRPA E.C. Member Mr. Bernard Le Guen briefly introduced the first International Workshop on Radiation Protection Culture, which was held in November 2009 in Paris and pointed out that there is still need for the further development of the definition, elements, and values of RP Culture.

These were followed by introduction of the current activities of Asian associate societies. Mr. Kun-Woo Cho, Chairman of International Relations Committee of KARP, introduced the “Feedback Experience with the Implementation of ICRP Recommendations” in China, Japan, Korea, and Malaysia. He pointed out that the establishment of dose constraints and reference levels in each country, taking into account national social and cultural environments, is the most outstanding issue to be incorporated. Most Asian countries are taking the appropriate steps for the implementation of ICRP 103 and new IAEA BSS. Mr. Hidenori Yonehara, President of JHPS, presented the “Discussion and Activity on the Revision of IAEA-BSS in Japan”. Mr. Sei-Chul Yoon, President of KARP, introduced the “Issue of Medical Exposures in Korea”, which highlighted the significant increase in the use of medical radiation in radiation oncology and diagnostic radiology, particularly CT, PET, and PET/CT during the last two decades. And the round table discussion session was followed with the host of Mr. Jong Kyung Kim, President of AOARP, for the exchange of views on the matters raised by Associate Societies and for the summary of AOARP Associate Societies’ RP activities.

The IRPA Special Session held on 26 May was chaired by Ken Kase.  Jacques Lochard introduced the recent evolution of the conduct of IRPA. Mr.  Kase also introduced “The Role of IRPA in Professional Enhancement: A New Challenge”.  The round table discussion was followed with the host for the exchange of views on promoting excellence and recognition of radiation protection in Asia and Oceania. AOCRP-3 also invited speakers from IAEA, WHO, and ICRP.

On May 25th, IRPA President Kenneth Kase received the following joint communication from the U.S. Health Physics Society and the American Academy of Health Physics

On the IRPA Guiding Principles for Radiation Protection Professionals on Stakeholder Engagement

In 2008, the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) at its Congress in Buenos Aires, adopted IRPA Guiding Principles for Radiation Protection Professionals on Stakeholder Engagement.

These Guiding Principles are intended to aid members of IRPA Associate Societies in promoting the participation of all relevant parties in the process of reaching decisions involving radiological protection which may impact on the well being and quality of life of workers and members of the public, and on the environment. In promoting this approach, radiological protection professionals will aim to develop trust and credibility throughout the decision making process in order to improve the sustainability of any final decisions.

The Health Physics Society’s (HPS) Board of Directors at its meeting on January 24, 2010, in Albuquerque adopted a position statement outlining the Guiding Principles and endorsing their use by health physicists in the U.S.  This position statement may be found at http://hps.org/documents/stakeholder_engagement_ps024-0.pdf. In turn, the executive committee of American Academy of Health Physics:

• endorsed  the HPS Position Statement,
• encouraged the American Board of Health Physics to incorporate the Guiding Principles in the subjects suitable for including in its certification exam, and
• directed the Academy president to write an article for HPS News encouraging all HPS to advise their employers to use the Guiding Principles in decision-making actions as appropriate. That article appeared in the May issue of HPS News.

The major organizations of radiation protection professionals in the U.S commend IRPA for developing and publishing the Guiding Principles.  They encourage other Associate Societies to enthusiastically and visibly advocate using the Guiding Principles to help decision-making agencies everywhere “develop trust and credibility throughout the decision-making process in order to improve the sustainability of any final decisions”- a worthwhile goal throughout the world.