EUTERP Workshop: The Radiation Protection Expert: Training Approaches and Tools

In conjunction with the Italian Association of Radiation Protection (AIRP) EUTERP is planning to run a course, with a significant workshop component, in Milan 24th June to 27th June 2025. 

This event  is aimed  at Radiation Protection Experts, both as trainees and trainers, with the objectives of helping  to equip participants with harmonized training methods and tools to ensure consistent safety practices, support cross-border collaboration and mobility, and enhance radiation safety across borders. The event, which will be conducted in English, will include 1.5 days of classes held in the former Sala del Consiglio of the Polytechnic of Milan, a venue with a seating capacity of 100 participants.

Additionally, there will be 1.5 days of hands-on training utilizing advanced virtual reality (VR) equipment and selected online resources. These practical sessions will take place in two state-of-the-art VR Lab classrooms, each designed to accommodate up to 45 participants. Participants will share 15 stations equipped with desktop PCs, 15 Meta Quest 2 headsets, and 15 USB-connected gamepads.  Augmented-reality applications to teach the basics of radiation protection (such as the properties of different types of radiation) or Virtual-Reality environments to determine the half-life of radionuclides will be explored and tested. Virtual laboratories for checking radiation protection measures in these laboratories or for carrying out radiochemical experiments will also be explored.

Although the EU has a shared framework for radiation protection, as noted above, the enforcement and focus of national regulations vary, with some prioritizing specific areas such as medical exposure, nuclear safety, or radon mitigation. Given the broad impact of radiation risks across multiple sectors, a common approach to training helps to support the maintenance of consistent safety standards between countries. In addition, common tools, including specialized software and protective equipment, enhance communication and coordination, particularly during emergencies, where swift and unified responses are critical to mitigating radiation hazards.