The initial organization of IRPA stems from initiatives of the Health Physics Society (USA) through a committee with K.Z. Morgan as its chairman.

After several meetings of this committee and correspondence with thousands of persons, it was determined that there existed a strong and almost unanimous desire to form a truly international health physics organization. This led to the calling of a pro tempore general assembly in Paris, France (1964), at which there were 45 official delegates representing 15 health physics or radiation protection societies.

Throughout the meeting there was expressed a genuine spirit of cooperation and strong desire to form this international association which was called the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA). A constitution was adopted which stated the primary objectives.

At this Paris meeting, a provisional Executive Council of IRPA was elected. It was agreed that IRPA would have formal existence when three or more societies representing at least 1000 members had become affiliated with it and that all affiliates prior to December 31, 1965, would be charter members of IRPA.

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IRPA Pro Tempore Executive Council, Paris, France, Dec. 2, 1964. From Left: Maushart (Germany), Courvoisier (Switzerland), Duhamel (France), Jammet (France), Bonnet-Maury (France)

IRPA Pro Tempore Executive Council, Paris, France, Dec. 2, 1964. From Left: Halter (Belgium), Marko (Canada), Maushart (Germany), Courvoisier (Switzerland), Duhamel (France)

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IRPA Pro Tempore Executive Council, Paris, France, Dec. 2, 1964. From Left: Hart (USA), Benco (Italy), Nishiwaki (Japan)

Commencing with the 1973 IRPA Congress, each congress has been opened by the Sievert Lecture which is presented by the winner of the Sievert Award. This award is in honour of Rolf M. Sievert, a pioneer in radiation physics and radiation protection.

The Sievert Award consists of a suitable scroll, certificate or parchment, containing the name of the recipient, the date it is presented, an indication that the award represents the fact that it honours the memory of Professor Rolf M. Sievert.

The recipients of the Sievert Award have been:

Preparatory-meetings:

EC-meetings: