The past decade has seen the UK radiation protection community facing a diverse range of opportunities and challenges, fueled in no small part by developments in science and technology, the implications of the 2013 EURATOM Basic Safety Standards and ongoing study into the nature and scale of radiological risk.
The Society for Radiological Protection (SRP) will address these topics and more over the course of its highly-anticipated annual conference which is scheduled to take place in Bournemouth, UK, from July 5th to 8th 2021.
SRP Conference and Exhibition 2021
While the exact format of the conference is still subject to COVID restrictions, it is hoped that it will go ahead as a predominantly live event, with the possibility of some virtual elements also being included.
Among the many areas of radiological interest that will be explored over the four days will be:
- The effect of revised Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRRs) on the medical sector and the impact that these changes may pose to the practice of radiation protection within hospital environments
- Updates to the Radiation Emergency Preparedness and Public Information Regulations (REPPIR) and how these have been received within the nuclear industry
- The extent to which the UK oil and gas industries have been affected by changes in the regulations regarding the management of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM)
- The regulatory and budgetary implications of the use of radioactive sources as teaching tools within schools, for example in order to demonstrate the significance of half life and shielding
- Future radiation protection challenges posed by the development of the UK’s Geological Disposal Facility
- The growing interest in the building of Small Modular Reactors
- Whether Brexit has affected the ability for overseas students to attend UK universities and R&D facilities
For those with a particular interest in the practice of radiation protection within medicine, there will be a review of changes to the eye lens equivalent dose limit for occupational exposure, as well as analysis of revisions to the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R) and the Clinical Decision Guide (CDG).
Other presentations will include:
- Supporting the armed forces counter CBRN teams - Alison Hulme (Dstl)
- The use of X-rays in the calibration of radiation protection instruments - Pete Burgess (Radiation Metrology)
- Environmental safety cases for near surface radioactive waste disposal - Nick Mitchell (Eden Nuclear and Environment Ltd)
- The role of radiation protection societies in developing professionals - Peter Bryant (SRP President)
The Dunster Lecture
Professor Mike Wood will deliver this year's Dunster Lecture at Tregonwell Hall on Tuesday July 6th at 10.15am.
Wood has an extensive background in radiation, pollution and ecology and is currently Reader in Applied Ecology at the University of Salford.
Alongside delivering research-led teaching in environmental management at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, he has also taken the lead on modules exploring ‘environment and sustainability’, and ‘environmental investigation and remediation.’
Wood’s recent supervisory roles have included PhD research on the measuring of radiation exposure of free-ranging wildlife and MSc research into the effects of radiation on large mammal populations in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
He was awarded the prestigious Time Higher Education Award for Research in 2016.
SRP Exhibition 2021
The SRP Exhibition will feature product demonstrations from UK and global leaders in the CBRNe and RP sectors, spanning subjects as diverse as individual dosimetry, regulatory compliance, radiation protection equipment and radiation training.
Argon Electronics is looking forward to showcasing its range of radiation simulators which will include the Mirion RDS100, ADM300A, Thermo FH40G, EPD-Mk2, RadEye GF-10, GS4-SIM and Mini 900 radiation meters.
Visitors to the exhibition will also be able to view Argon’s App-based training system, PlumeSIM-SMART which is widely used in table top and field based offsite release exercises where it helps to underpin incident preparation for Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations and IRR17 compliance.
Argon’s extensive portfolio of simulator-based training devices are currently in use by multiple agencies worldwide including the UK Police CBRN Centre Ryton, the UK CBRN Defence Centre, London Fire and the Fire Department of New York.
Please do stop by Argon’s booth (35) during the exhibition to find out more about the applications of simulator-based radiation training tools within your current programmes of instruction.
