5th European IRPA Congress
Encouraging Sustainability in Radiation Protection
4-8 June 2018, The Hague, The Netherlands
Introduction
Since 2002, Radiation Protection professionals from all over Europe and beyond have met every four years at regional European IRPA congresses. The Dutch Society for Radiation Protection (NVS) is pleased to host the next congress in this series. The 5th European IRPA Congress is scheduled to take place from 4th to 8th June, 2018 in the wonderful city of The Hague, The Netherlands.
With the theme “Encouraging Sustainability in Radiation Protection”, the congress will focus on the various aspects needed to ensure that we have, and will continue to have, adequate equipment, staff and resources to protect human health and our environment adequately against the adverse effects of ionising and non-ionising radiation.
The five day programme of the congress will offer a whole range of plenary, parallel and poster sessions, refreshers on all relevant scientific and operational topics in radiation protection, as well as plenty of opportunities for exhibitors. More importantly, the congress offers radiation protection professionals the opportunity to interact and exchange experiences among each other. Furthermore, building on the experiences of previous European and International IRPA congresses and in line with the general theme of the congress, special attention will be paid to (activities for) both the young and future generations of radiation protection professionals.
During the EUTERP Associates Meeting (October 2015, Athens), it was decided to have a strong involvement of EUTERP in the E&T part of the IRPA 2018 congress. This decision was a consequence of two observations. On one hand E&T sessions at IRPA congress are usually relatively small, despite the importance of the subject. On the other hand the involvement of IRPA members from other stakeholders than E&T providers and regulators is small in EUTERP workshops. Therefore, cooperation between IRPA 2018 and EUTERP in organizing the E&T sessions at the congress is considered a unique opportunity for both IRPA and EUTERP to exchange knowledge and experience in the field of Education and Training and gain interest in each other’s activities. EUTERP has nominated Folkert Draaisma as a member of the core Scientific Program Committee (SPC).
Main scientific topical areas
Introduction
The scientific programme has four components: the regular scientific presentations, refresher courses, poster sessions and the Young Professional Award session.
The SPC has identified five main topical areas, each being subdivided into sub-specialties. An essential sub-specialty for every topical area is Education and Training. Later on in the preparation of the congress the SPC will, together with EUTERP, decide on the exact structure of the E&T contributions in the program.
Below we give an overview of the main subjects of the five topical areas.
Fundamental and/or general issues
Sustainability in radiation protection. Security of sources, installations and plants. Fundamental safety and security objectives and principles of protection, safety and security. Emergency Preparedness and (risk) communication. Existing and planned exposure situations. Ethics in radiation protection. Stakeholder involvement. Presentations of radiation protection programmes and policies at the national, multi-national and international level on these issues are particularly encouraged.
Medical
All radiation protection activities and issues related to the safe, secure and economical use of radioactive isotopes and X-rays in health care applications. Dose optimization for patients, workers and the general public.
Industry
Operational radiation protection practices at e.g. NPP’s, waste storage/disposal facilities for artificial nuclides as well as for NORM, re-processing plants, decommissioning projects, etc. This item also includes industries producing materials with elevated NORM levels and industries applying sealed radioactive sources in their production process or in non-destructive testing.
Research and applications
R&D, licensing, construction, operation, effect on people and environment. Regulatory/public acceptance and radiation protection aspects of (new) developed isotopes and applications for medical and industrial use. Modelling, calculation and assessment of the radiation dose received by people and the environment (e.g. animals and plants). Low-dose radiation risk assessment and modelling. Cosmic radiation and space travel.
Non-ionizing Radiation
UV-radiation protection and UV health effects, skin cancer prevention, balancing UV-health hazards and benefits; Solar and artificial UV-exposures in environmental, medical, cosmetical and industrial situations for public, patients and workers; Laser safety and protection in medicine and industry; EMF-exposure and possible health effects in industrial, medical and environmental situations, including cell phones, power lines, MRI, RF-transmission stations etc, Public perception of risks, Regulatory principles of protection, guidelines.
Refresher courses
The refresher courses will be very different from what you are used to from previous IRPA congresses: a cluster of refresher courses on Monday morning 4 June and Wednesday 6 June will replace the preliminary hour very early in the day. And we are trying to provide at least two contributions on each topic: a basic lecture and a lecture covering either current developments with regard to a specific subject or a more in-depth examination. We are convinced that this approach will produce more coherent training sessions that meet our participants’ needs more effectively. A Mini-workshop – on Education & Training, on Wednesday afternoon – is organized in close collaboration with EUTERP.
Poster sessions
The traditional poster sessions will also be different. We want to use digital poster boards on which any of the posters can be called up throughout the congress. And via the congress app participants can arrange to meet the creator of the poster. During the breaks special elevator pitches will be held where a small number of poster creators will answer questions about their poster. So no more long queues for partially empty poster boards!
Young professionals
All the European associate societies will have the opportunity to nominate a candidate for the Young Professional Award (YPA). On Thursday afternoon, 7 June, all the candidates will present their work. That afternoon as few as possible and preferably no regular scientific presentations will be held, so that everyone is able to see and listen to up-and-coming/young radiation protection experts. And in addition to the YPA, we have well advanced plans to create a public award for the best young professional. The YPA is not the only activity for young radiation protection experts. We hope to dedicate one of the refresher courses on the Monday morning specifically to young radiation protection experts and the Young Generation chapters of the European IRPA Societies. And there will be a special lunch session for this group. In this way we hope to help stimulate the involvement of the younger generation.
Technical visits
Various technical visits will be offered in research, industry and medical.
Location and venue: WORLD FORUM in the Hague
About The Hague
The Hague is the international city of peace and justice and the third largest city in the Netherlands. It is also the official seat of the Crown and government, home to hundreds of international organisations and multinationals and one of the world's top three UN cities. It takes 15 to 35 minutes to arrive at The Hague from the nearest airports (Rotterdam-The Hague Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol). From our neighbouring countries we however recommend transport by train. There are excellent connections that will bring you within a couple of hours to The Hague.
About the World Forum
The World Forum is the leading international convention centre in The Hague and is perfectly situated between the city centre and the beach. It successfully hosted the largest summit in the history of the Netherlands: the Nuclear Security Summit 2014. This international conference was attended by the leaders or heads of state of more than 50 countries. It attracted around 5,000 delegate members and thousands of journalists to The Hague. The venue provides a safe, secure and flexible environment.
Congress organization
Congress officers and website
Congress President: Hielke Freerk Boersma
Congress Secretary: Bert Gerritsen
Congress Treasurer: Gert Jonkers
Scientific Programme Committee: Lars Roobol
Organization Committee: Jan Kops
Congress Website: www.irpa2018europe.com
More information on the congress
Congress Secretariat: A Solution Events
Newtonlaan 51
3584 BP Utrecht, The Netherlands
T: +31 85 90 22 830
E: info@irpa2018europe.com
If are you interested in attending the 5th European IRPA Congress, please register your interest by completing the on-line form available the Congress Website. You will be kept informed about all the news about the Congress.
