Current News

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

The National Academies Board on Science Education has released the report Understanding and Addressing Misinformation about Science.

Our current information ecosystem makes it easier for misinformation about science to spread and harder for people to figure out what is scientifically accurate. Improving access to high-quality scientific information can fill information voids that exist for topics of interest to people, reducing risks of exposure to and uptake of misinformation about science. Misinformation is commonly perceived as a matter of bad actors maliciously misleading the public, but misinformation about science arises both intentionally and inadvertently and from a wide range of sources.

More information about this project, including the link to download the report, can be found here.

The Gilbert W. Beebe Symposium is hosting a two-day workshop on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications in radiation therapy/oncology, diagnostics, and occupational health and safety on 13–14 March 2025.

The symposium will include a community discussion on algorithm development and pathways to success, a focus on future directions and opportunities in AI/ML methods and technology to advance the fields of the radiation health sciences, and discussions on the intentionality of data collection for algorithm development and training, as well as focused breakout sessions on current and emerging applications of AI and ML in the radiation health science fields.

Sessions will consider such topics as:

1. Broader AI Community Discussions
2. Future Directions and Opportunities for AI/ML Applications in the Radiation Health Sciences
3. Data for AI Readiness
4. AI in the Clinic – Applications in Radiation Oncology and Medical Diagnostics
5. AI Applications in Occupational and Public Health
6. AI Applications in Predictive Modeling
7. Education and Workforce Development
8. AI Regulations and Ethics

Register now for the Gilbert W. Beebe Symposium on AI and ML Applications in Radiation Therapy, Medical Diagnostics, and Radiation Occupational Health and Safety to stay updated on future announcements, including the public agenda.

Visit the event web page to register and for additional details. If you have a question about this event, email NRSB@nas.edu.

New messages have been posted to the thread "Shewhart's Rules (Control Charts)" under the Instrumentation category on the Members Forum on the Health Physics Society (HPS) website.

To join the discussion, HPS members should log in to Members Only and then click here.

To read all discussions in the Members Forum, click here.

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Discovery Channel are working together on "Good to Know," an educational video series on nuclear science and technology. The series will start in January 2025 on television and online. For more information see an article by Katy Laffan with the IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication.

Have you ever thought about putting your name forward to join the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Main Commission or one of its four committees? ICRP is seeking nominations for committee membership for the next term: 1 July 2025–30 June 2029. Nominations will also be retained for consideration for membership in ICRP task groups as opportunities arise.

The Main Commission and committees operate on four-year terms, while task groups generally continue until their work is complete. Current members come from more than 50 countries and all disciplines relevant to radiological protection. Selected based on their recognized competence and experience, members are volunteers invited to join ICRP as independent experts.

Click here for more information.

Nominations must be submitted by 31 January 2025.

Craig Little, Nominating Committee Chair

The Health Physics Society (HPS) Nominating Committee is in the process of soliciting candidates for next year's election of officers. The offices that will be up for election during the vote in late 2025 are president-elect, secretary-elect, and two directors. The winners will take office at the HPS 2026 Annual Meeting.

Nominations can be accepted from just about anywhere: from chapter or committee recommendations, from sections, and from individuals. If you have an associate or colleague who has been active in HPS as a committee, section, or chapter member, encourage them to submit their name or do it for them. Of course, it's good to have their permission to do so. Also, unsuccessful nominees and candidates from previous years are strongly encouraged to try again; just let the Nominating Committee know.

I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for supporting HPS!

To submit a nomination or receive more information, contact Nominating Committee Chair Craig Little.

HPS Web Operations

Did you know that you can play a role in determining the governance of the Health Physics Society (HPS)? Toward the end of each year, the HPS holds an election for officers and directors who will take office at the next annual meeting. Candidates for the open positions are chosen in a nomination process that begins long before the election and includes the HPS Nominating Committee and HPS members.

Elective positions of the Society consist of directors and the elective officer positions of president-elect, treasurer-elect, and secretary-elect (depending on which offices need to be filled each year).

Any voting member of the Society may be nominated for an elected position, except members of the Nominating Committee, provided the individual has agreed to serve the complete term of the office if elected.

Any member of the HPS may make a nomination; however, the nomination is stronger with chapter president, section president, or HPS committee chair recommendations or endorsements.

Nominations should be submitted to the chair of the Nominating Committee by 1 April. However, nominations submitted after this date may be considered if time permits.

Click here to find more information about the officer and director nomination process.

Click these links to the HPS Bylaws and Rules for more information:

• Elective Offices and Voting Procedures
• Officers of the Society
• Board of Directors
• Nominating Committee

The call for Board member and officer nominations for the 2025–2026 election year is currently in place, so think about the people you know who would best serve the HPS. And then send their names in to the Nominating Committee. You can have a voice in your HPS!

To submit a nomination or receive more information, contact Nominating Committee Chair Craig Little.

Text and photos courtesy of Thomas Johnson, Faculty Advisor

NCRP President Dr. Higley and students after the seminar at CSU

Students on the site of the training exercise that involved the CSU Radiation Safety Office and Wyoming CST

Students on the site of the exercise, with CST member and CSU RSO discussing the scenario and response

The Colorado State University (CSU) Student Branch of the Health Physics Society has had a very busy end of semester!

Students were able to participate in the Central Rocky Mountain Chapter meeting on 5 December where National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) President (and CSU alum) Dr. Kathy Higley presented on the NCRP. Higley also gave an exceptional presentation at CSU on Friday, 6 December, on radioecology. On 10 December, CSU students were invited to join in an exercise with the Wyoming Civil Support Team (CST). The training exercise involved the CSU Radiation Safety Office and Wyoming CST. The students were able to tour the facilities and also observe the capabilities of the CST.

Donald Haes, Section Secretary/Treasurer

From the Health Physics Society Nonionizing Radiation (NIR) Section Executive Board to all NIR Section members:

The IEEE International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES) TC95 Subcommittee 2 (Terminology, Units of Measurements, and Hazard Communications) will be holding a meeting 8 am–12 pm PST on Thursday, 23 January 2025, using the Webex platform. The meeting will have a session on RF personal monitors and their use in electromagnetic energy (EME) safety programs.

Those who are not currently members of ICES will be allowed participation in this meeting at no cost. If you are interested in attending, please contact SC2 Secretary Donald Haes for more information.

Students, it is time to apply for awards to help toward your health physics education. The Students area of the Health Physics Society (HPS) website offers an abundance of information on scholarships, fellowships, and grants available to health physics students.

For 2025, HPS is offering several scholarships and fellowships. The HPS also offers travel grants for HPS member students planning to attend the next annual meeting of the HPS. The application process is open and the deadline for submission of applications for scholarships, fellowships, and travel grants is 19 March 2025.

Click here to access the scholarships and fellowships application form.

Click here to access the travel grant application form.

Advisors and HPS members, please encourage health physics students you know to apply soon.

The election for Health Physics Society (HPS) leaders who will take office at the 2025 HPS Annual Meeting will open 18 December 2024 at 9 am EST and close 31 January 2025 at 5 pm EST. Some proposed changes to the HPS Bylaws will also be included on the ballot.

To make sure you have a voice in choosing your leadership for the coming years and to take part in the Bylaws process—sign in to Members Only on the HPS website and find the HPS Election icon under Resources for You. If you need assistance in casting your ballot, call the HPS Secretariat at 703-790-1745.

Candidates for treasurer-elect:

Deirdre Elder

Kathy McLellan

Candidates for director (vote for 2):

Henry Bolen

William Irwin

George Tabatadze

Zach Tribbett

Liz Brackett, HPS President, 2023–2025

As we come to the close of the year, I'd like to thank all our volunteers who work so hard to keep the Society running, as well as moving forward. Many of you put in a great deal of time and often receive little recognition, but please know that each of you is greatly appreciated! The Society Support Committee is working on ways to recognize more volunteers so keep an eye out for that in the coming year. We'll also be rolling out a new website next year and have several other initiatives in process so there's much to look forward to.

Wishing all our members a happy and peaceful holiday season and New Year!

Mike Lewandowski, FHPS, CHP, Local Arrangements Committee

As 2024 winds down there is always a lot to do. It's time to prepare for the holiday season and get set for the start of a new year. It's also time to renew your Health Physics Society (HPS) membership and start submitting abstracts for the 70th HPS Annual Meeting.

Your Local Arrangements Committee (LAC) continues to plan for the 70th HPS Annual Meeting in Madison, including looking at attractions that are nearby so that you can enjoy your trip to Wisconsin before and after the HPS meeting. Some of our favorite outdoor spaces include Devil's Lake State Park near Baraboo for hiking and rock climbing in the Midwest. Governor Dodge State Park is a great place to hike and enjoy Wisconsin's geologic features of steep hills, bluffs, deep valleys, and a waterfall. Closer to Madison is Blue Mound State Park. Both of these parks offer off-road bike trails, hiking and camping. Blue Mound State Park also has the only swimming pool located in a Wisconsin state park.

Monona Terrace from Lake Monona
Photo by Nick Berard, courtesy of Destination Madison

Ice skating outside the historic Edgewater Hotel
Photo by Sharon Vanorny, courtesy of Destination Madison

For a decidedly eclectic mixture of natural and man-made wonders you should consider a day trip to the House on the Rock. Located an hour from Madison (and only minutes from Governor Dodge State Park), the House on the Rock offers the visitor an experience unlike any other. The House on the Rock showcases unbelievable collections of dolls, doll houses, firearms, circuses, automated musical machines, model airplanes, and artifacts from all over the world.

Stay tuned for more information on a potential social tour to New Glarus. This picturesque small town brings a bit of Switzerland to the hills of Wisconsin. Enjoy Swiss-inspired architecture, cuisine, and shopping. You won't want to miss a tour of the New Glarus Brewing Company or Bailey's Run Vineyard and Winery.

Mark your calendar right now for 13–17 July 2025 to attend the 70th HPS Annual Meeting in Madison. If you have questions, feel free to contact our LAC Cochairs Jessica Joyce and Jason Rusch. In the meantime, on behalf of the entire LAC, let me wish you a very happy holiday season.

HPS Web Operations

Health Physics Society (HPS) chapter and section leaders, please make sure the names and contact information for the officers of your chapter/section are updated on the HPS website. This information needs to be current for you to be able to submit the required chapter/section report. Contact Web Ops Editor in Chief Barbara Hamrick or Web Ops Technical Editor Craig Little to update your information.

Please take a moment now to renew your Health Physics Society membership so you continue to receive the many benefits provided to Society members. The HPS Membership Committee kindly reminds you to update your directory information while completing your membership renewal, including specifying up to two health physics specialties.

If you are not yet a member of HPS, but would like to join, please click here to view the benefits of membership and click here to join.

On 27 November 2024, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued its Fiscal Year 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the University Nuclear Leadership Program for Research and Development Grants. The NOFO closes on 31 January 2025. For more information, click here.

Ken Gavlik, Section President

Attention Decommissioning Professionals!

The Health Physics Society (HPS) Decommissioning Section is excited to announce the continuation of its popular webinar series. Following the successful August 2023 presentation "Overview of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Decommissioning," we're planning four more webinars next year featuring San Onofre personnel.

Topics for 2025, with dates to be determined, include:

• Decommissioning and Partial Site Release
• Unit 1 Subgrade Issues
• Units 2 and 3 Basement Clearance
• LTP (License Termination Plan) Approval

Calling All Decommissioning Experts!

Do you have decommissioning knowledge to share with your peers? The Decommissioning Section is actively seeking volunteers to present on various decommissioning topics. We welcome your expertise!

Interested in presenting?

Email your interest, along with your proposed topic and a brief summary to Ken Gavlik or Kevin Banks.

We look forward to your submissions and another informative year of decommissioning webinars!

A new thread has been created under the category "Instrumentation" on the Health Physics Society (HPS) Members Forum. Information is being sought from an expert on Control Charts (and Shewhart's Rules).

To join the discussion, HPS members should log in to Members Only and then click here. To read all discussions in the Members Forum, click here.

Final Deadline – 7 March 2025

The 70th Health Physics Society (HPS) Annual Meeting will be held in Madison, Wisconsin, 13–17 July 2025. Madison is a vibrant and dynamic city that blends the charm of a small town with the energy and opportunities of a capital city. Nestled between picturesque lakes Mendota and Monona, Madison is renowned for its natural beauty, offering a mix of scenic parks, outdoor activities, and stunning waterfront views. As the capital of Wisconsin and home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the city boasts a thriving academic community, a rich cultural scene, and a progressive spirit. Its diverse industries, from biotechnology to education and government, make it a hub for innovation and collaboration. Madison's downtown area is filled with a vibrant mix of restaurants, cafes, and businesses, creating an engaging environment for all to enjoy. The HPS is looking forward to a fantastic meeting, and we want you to be part of it. Give a talk or share a poster! Authors can present live in-person oral or posters.

If there is a special topic that would be of interest to the health physics community, a special session is a great way to introduce it and initiate scientific dialog among your peers. For more information, please contact Task Force Chairs Josh Hayes and Bill Hinchcliffe.

Technical Sessions
Technical sessions are scheduled throughout the week and include many aspects of the practice of radiation safety. Typical session topics include:

• Accelerator Health Physics
• Academic Radiation Safety
• Air Monitoring
• Decontamination and Decommissioning
• Dose Reconstruction
• Emergency Response
• Environmental Monitoring
• External Dosimetry
• Homeland Security Monitoring
• Industrial Radiation Safety
• Internal Dosimetry
• Instrumentation
• Medical Health Physics
• Military Health Physics
• Power Reactor Health Physics
• Radiobiology – Biological Response
• Regulations/Licensing
• Risk Assessment
• Waste Management

Please submit your abstract (including special session abstracts) through the meeting platform website by 7 March 2025.

Note: there will be no extensions! INSTEAD if you need a little more time, reserve a slot by contacting the task force chair with your subject and topic.

Abstracts will be printed directly from your electronic submission. Minor editing (punctuation and grammar) may be performed on your abstract; you will not see a revised version before publication. If you experience problems or it is not possible to submit your abstract electronically, please contact the Secretariat at 703-790-1745 (or fax 703-790-2672) for further instructions.

PLEASE NOTE: Abstracts submitted via email will not be accepted.

A submitted abstract is a commitment to present; cancellations should be avoided. All presenters must register and pay for the meeting by May 2025 to be included in the final program. If extenuating circumstances prevent the presenting author from making the presentation, it is the author's responsibility to find an alternate presenter. Presenters who submit more than one oral abstract and cancel should find alternate presenters; otherwise, you may be limited to one abstract for future meetings.

Wade C. Morris, Chapter President

The Cincinnati Radiation Society (CRS) held its preholiday meeting on Wednesday, 20 November 2024, to elect/reelect officers and to take a look back in history to when the CRS was formed by Bob Gallaghar in 1953 so we can prepare a vision for the future. The meeting was held at the University of Cincinnati, where an abundance of conversation, pizza, and beverages of all types freely flowed throughout the evening.

The slate of newly elected officers includes Doug Draper as president-elect, Terry Lindley as secretary/treasurer, and Halder Hernandez to the Board of Directors. Existing members of the Board of Directors include Henry Spitz and Mutty Sharfi. The interests of the CRS membership and the mission of the Cincinnati Radiation Society maintain a strong focus on the science that promotes radiological safety and health for workers, the population, and the environment. Although the majority of past CRS members were employed at former Department of Energy facilities, new members are mostly from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), NIOSH contractors, hospitals, and other related industries that have an interest in radiation safety. Wade Morris summarized recent activities of the CRS showing how the current membership maintains strong support for their professional organization. Tim Taulbee followed with a suggestion for outreach to share CRS meetings via Zoom with other nearby Health Physics Society (HPS) chapters to promote collaboration in our geographical area. Although the CRS has a long history that predates the formal organization of the HPS, the membership and officers of the CRS are looking forward to a productive and exciting future.

Attendees at the CRS November meeting
Photo courtesy of Tim Taulbee

CRS Executive Council
Photo courtesy of Tim Taulbee

CRS November meeting
Photo courtesy of Wade Morris

The election for Health Physics Society (HPS) leaders who will take office at the 2025 HPS Annual Meeting will be taking place soon. Watch for opening and closing dates and make sure you take part in choosing your leadership for the coming years. Candidates for office for 2025–2026 are:

Treasurer-elect: Deirdre Elder and Kathy McLellan

Director: Henry Bolen, William Irwin, George Tabatadze, and Zach Tribbett

There will also be a vote on some bylaws changes. Check back on the Current News page for more information as it becomes available.

The December short course offerings have been posted on the Short Courses page of the HPS website. Information on the following courses is available:

Laser Safety Officer (LSO) Training—Kentek Corporation

Online Health Physics Certification Review Course—Colorado State University Professional Education

Certification Review Course Part I and Self Study Course Part I—Bevelacqua Resources

Certification Review Course Part II and Self Study Course Part II—Bevelacqua Resources

MARSSIM—ORAU's Professional Training Programs

MARSSIM for Managers Online Training Course—ORAU's Professional Training Program

Facility Decommissioning Training Course—Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)

Nathaniel Rutter, PhD student in radiological health sciences

Drilling rigs used to drill 450 feet into the earth to access the ore body
Photo courtesy of Dr. Tom Johnson

CSU students posing in front of hydrochloric acid tanks used in fuel processing
Photo courtesy of Dr. Tom Johnson

CSU students on a tour of the well field with Ryan Schierman standing next to an injection well
Photo courtesy of Dr. Tom Johnson

On Friday, 8 November 2024, students funded through a Mountains & Plains Education and Research Center (MAP ERC) grant toured the Lost Creek in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium mine north of Rawlins, Wyoming.

The day started with a 225-mile drive north from Colorado State University to the Great Basin and red desert of Wyoming. Surprisingly, driving into the compound did not reveal any large pits, excavators, or grandiose mining equipment. Instead, we were greeted by relatively undisturbed land, wild horses and antelopes, and small mounds of topsoil.

As we arrived at the uranium processing plant, Chris Pedersen (radiation safety officer), Oscar Paulson (special projects manager), and Ryan Schierman (vice president of regulatory affairs) directed the group up to their conference room, where we received a short introduction to in-situ uranium mining. They explained that the ISR process focuses on noninvasive mobilization of uranium minerals using oxygenated and carbonated (CO2) water (lixiviant). Wells approximately 137 meters deep are drilled in a grid-like pattern across the landscape to access the orebody underground. Injection wells are pumped with oxygenated/carbonated water solution that flows through the ore, effectively mobilizing the uranium by changing its oxidation state. The uranium-containing water (pregnant lixiviant) then flows to a recovery well located in the center of the grid. The recovery well pumps water up from the ground at a high flow rate, forcing the mineralized water solution to follow a calculated path. This process prevents any mobilized uranium solution from leaching into groundwater aquifers. The solution is then pumped into a well house then into the plant for processing.

As we learned, each step is highly controlled and scrutinized to prevent violations and loss of uranium. As soon as geologists assess the land to determine where to drill, the team is under strict rules and regulations, and their job does not end until the yellowcake is dried and safely packaged for shipping. Chris's job as the RSO is to ensure that the workers in the plant and well field are protected from radiation dose, as well as ensuring that uranium mining regulations are being followed. That includes routine testing of equipment and use of personnel monitoring equipment (dosimeters) to measure an individual's exposure to ionizing radiation. If doses are at a dangerous level, or PPE is not working sufficiently, or if contamination is detected in places that could present a hazard to worker health or safety, it's his job to assess and correct the plant's processes to protect workers and the environment.

In our tour of the plant, we got to shadow his daily duties, including monitoring of surfaces and air for contamination and learning how he is using shielding to reduce radiation dose rates in high-traffic areas of the facility. We also got to see how the uranium solution is processed through extraction and recovery columns, which represent a large area of the main warehouse.

Overall, the Lost Creek mine tour was highly educational and a very exciting experience to step out of the classroom to witness the first step in the nuclear energy infrastructure.

Brant Ulsh, CHP, PhD, Health Physics Editor in Chief

The future has arrived! The January 2025 issue of the Health Physics Journal is the first since our move to online only (no print version). In keeping with our focus on the future, the January issue spotlights students' research. Please visit the Journal's website and see the cutting edge of radiation protection research. You will find papers on the following topics, and many others:

• Risk Assessment for Nuclear Terrorism Probability and Its Application on a Hypothetical Nuclear Facility
• Implementing a Phase II Quality Control Protocol for a High Precision ¹³⁷Cs Dosimetry Calibration Irradiator
• TENORM Regulation in the United States of America Post-West Virginia vs. EPA
• A Novel Shielding Device for Cardiac Cath Labs

While you are there, browse the collections, metrics, related articles, etc. Welcome to the new era of the Health Physics Journal!

Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism: Their Science, Effects, Prevention, and Recovery, authored by Health Physics Society (HPS) member P. Andrew Karam, was published in 2021. This book discusses multiple aspects of radiological and nuclear terrorism. Whether you are an emergency responder, a medical caregiver, a public health official—even a member of the public wanting to know how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe—there is a need to understand how these weapons work, how radiation affects our health, how to stop an attack from taking place, how to respond appropriately in the event of an emergency, and much more.

For more information on Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism: Their Science, Effects, Prevention, and Recovery and to order a copy, please visit the Books by HPS Members page on the HPS website. The books are listed in alphabetical order by author's last name.

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has announced that ICRP Publication 155: Specific Absorbed Fractions for Reference Paediatric Individuals, authored by several Health Physics Society members, is now available on ICRP.org. Click here to read the abstract and access the report.

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

Newly released by the Biden-Harris administration, Safely and Responsibly Expanding US Nuclear Energy: Deployment Targets and a Framework for Action "outlines pathways to expand domestic nuclear energy and describes how the US government, US nuclear industry, and workforce can capitalize on this moment for the American people." Click here to read the document. Click here for more information. 

The Health Physics Academic Education and Research Center (HPAERC) is a nonprofit entity founded in the summer of 2023. It is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization separate from but supported by the Health Physics Society. The HPAERC Board of Directors is chaired by Elizabeth Gillenwalters, with Vice-chair Jerry Thomas, Treasurer Frazier Bronson, and members David Connolly, Jason Harris, Tom Johnson, Mark Sommerville, Troy Prutzman, and Joe Guido. HPAERC's mission is to raise funds to support students and faculty in the field of radiation protection and health physics, supported by endowment funding.

HPAERC is seeking volunteers for two important committees: the Fundraising Committee and the Awards Committee. The Fundraising Committee will strategize potential donors, be they individuals, corporations, or government entities, and will develop solicitation and recognition strategies with guidance from Susan Kelly of Kelly Strategies. The Awards Committee will develop criteria for awards and procedures for soliciting applications. Committees would be expected to commence in January 2025. Leadership of the committees has not yet been named, but anyone interested in serving on one of these important and consequential committees, please contact Elizabeth Gillenwalters.

William (Rusty) Lorenzen, FHPS, Chapter President

As we continue to build momentum, there have been a few recent activities that the New England Chapter of the Health Physics Society (NECHPS) has undertaken.

On 23–27 September, Counterterrorism Operations Support (CTOS) Center for Radiological Nuclear Training provided the first Radiological Operations Support Specialist (ROSS) course held in Massachusetts. We had 20 participants and will be hosting another class in May of 2025.

On 27 October, we held a joint virtual meeting with the Delaware Valley Society for Radiation Safety (DVSRS). HPS President-elect Mike Lewandowski spoke about radiation gauging.

The NECHPS participated in and cohosted the New England Radiological Health Compact (NERHC) annual meeting in Portland, Maine, 28 October–1 November. This brought together many of the regulatory agencies for New England discussing the various radiological program topics and challenges. It also featured some interesting presentations on emergency response, new reactor design, and fusion.

The NECHPS will also hold its annual holiday vendor social on 12 December. This is always a crowd pleaser as we will have a number of raffles and libations for all.

Lastly, we are proud and pleased to announce we have completed the merger of the Connecticut Chapter into the New England Chapter. This was accomplished over many months of work to amend both the NECHPS bylaws and the chapter's Charter. We can finally say that the New England Chapter truly includes all six New England states.

Nominations are now open for the following positions on the Medical Health Physics Section Board of Directors:

• President-elect
• Secretary/Treasurer
• Director

If you are interested, please send your name, contact information, and a short bio to Tom Morgan at morgantl@aol.com, 585-259-9802 (cell).

IRPA 16 Young Professionals holding their certificates
Submitted photo

US Delegation to IRPA 16: Front row left to right, Sara Dumit, Caleigh Samuels, Carolyn MacKenzie, Kevin Nelson, Mike Mahathy, Elizabeth Brackett, Latha Vasudevan, Emily Caffrey, Kendall Berry, and Mike Boyd. Back row left to right, Scott Schwahn, Derek Jokisch, Jonathan Napier, Mike Lewandowski, Nolan Hertel, and Charles Wilson.
Submitted photo

Health Physics Society Women in Radiation Protection Section social event at IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting
Submitted photo

Held jointly by the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) and the Health Physics Society (HPS), the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting took place 7–12 July 2024 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. The schedule on Monday, 9 July, included the Opening Ceremony, Keynote Lecture, Sievert Lecture, Plenary Panel #1, and Plenary Panel #2.

Photos courtesy of Stan Bravenac

Opening Ceremony Remarks

Kevin Nelson
IRPA 16 Congress President

Bernard le Guen
IRPA President

Elizabeth Brackett
HPS President

Renate Czarwinski
IRPA 16 Program Committee Chair

Charles Wilson
Task Force Chair
HPS Program Committee

Opening Ceremony Keynote Lecture

Norman Thagard
NASA (Retired)

Sievert Lecture

Dr. María del Rosario Pérez
La Autoridad Regulatoria Nuclear Board of Directors Advisor

Plenary Panel #1: "The Systems of RP for Ionising & Non-Ionising Radiation"

Plenary Panel #1, left to right, John O'Hagan (Cochair), Emilie van Deventer, Sigurður Magnús Magnússon, Kathryn A. Higley, Werner Rühm, Sara Dumit (Rapporteur), Rodney Croft, and Christopher Clement (Chair)

Plenary Panel #2: Current Status of the Scientific Basis for Radiation Safety, Protection Recommendations, and International Standards

Plenary Panel #2, left to right, John Damilakis, Charles Wilson (Rapporteur), Jing Chen, Pete Bryant, Renate Czarwinski (Cochair), Thierry Schneider, Hildegarde Annie A. Vandenhove, Shengli Niu, Bernard le Guen, and Kevin Nelson (Chair)

Add the dates of the following Health Physics Society meetings to your calendar. Check the Meetings and Conferences page of the website for the most current information.

• 70th HPS Annual Meeting - 2025
  13–17 July 2025, Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, WI
  
  Hotel Reservations
  HPS has secured discounted room blocks at three hotels for Madison. Below are the links to secure discounted rooms.
  
  The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor's Club
  1 W. Dayton St. | Madison, WI 53703
  Rate: 168/night + tax
  
  Hilton Madison Monona Terrace
  9 East Wilson Street | Madison, WI 53703
  Rate: $211/night + tax
  
  Embassy Suites by Hilton Madison Downtown
  231 S. Pinckney Street | Madison, WI 53703
  Rate: $169/night + tax
  
  Reserve your room before the block sells out!
   
• 71st HPS Annual Meeting - 2026
  5–9 July 2026, Gaylord National Harbor, MD

HPS Web Operations

Stephen Samson Mkoloma, left, accepts his book from HPS News Editor Mary Walchuk
Submitted photo

Stephen Samson Mkoloma from Dar es Salaam Tanzania won a copy of Fundamentals of Health Physics & Radiation Protection, by Philip C. Fulmer, at the HPS Publications Booth book drawing at the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

We gave away more than 50 great books and enjoyed meeting and talking with so many people about HPS publications and the HPS website!

Thank you to the authors, editors, and publishers who donated over $4,000 worth of books, including fiction and nonfiction, covering a wide range of topics.

If you saw a book that you would like, but didn't win, click on the links below for ordering information.

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer – Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin (available from Penguin Random House, ISBN 9780375726262)

An Introduction to Radiation Protection in Medicine – Edited by Jamie V. Trapp and Tomas Kron (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN 9781584889649)

The Atomic City Girls – Janet Beard (available from HarperCollinsPublishers, ISBN: 9780062666710)

At Work in the Atomic City: A Labor and Social History of Oak Ridge, Tennessee – Russell B. Olwell (available from The University of Tennessee Press, ISBN 13: 978-1-57233-644-5, ISBN 10: 1-57233-644-7)

City Behind a Fence: Oak Ridge, Tennessee 1942–1946 – Charles W. Johnson and Charles O. Jackson (available from The University of Tennessee Press, ISBN: 978-0-87049-309-6)

Critical Connections: The University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge from the Dawn of the Atomic Age to the Present – Lee Riedinger, Al Ekkebus, Ray Smith, and William Bugg (available from The University of Tennessee Press, ISBN 13: 978-1621906544, ISBN 10: 162190654X)

Dead Hot – M.K. Coker (available from Amazon, ISBN-10: 1545120609, ISBN-13: ‎978-1545120606)

Decommissioning Health Physics: A Handbook for MARRSIM Users, Second Edition – Eric W. Abelquist (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780367867133)

Environmental Health, Fourth Edition – Dade W. Moeller (available from Harvard University Press, ISBN: 9780674047402)

Fundamentals of Health Physics & Radiation Protection – Dr. Philip C. Fulmer (available from Amazon, ISBN-13: ‎979-8989597901)

The Girls of Atomic City – Denise Kernan (available from Simon & Schuster, ISBN: 978-1-4516-1752-8)

The Health Physics Solutions Manual, Third Edition – Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169051, ISBN-13: 978-1929169054)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – Rebecca Skloot (available from Penguin Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-5218-9)

Khan’s The Physics of Radiation Therapy, Sixth Edition – John P. Gibbons (available from Wolters Kluwer, ISBN: 9781496397522)

Laser Safety Management – Ken Barat (available from CRC Press, ISBN 9780824723071)

Low Dose Radiation: The History of the U.S. Department of Energy Research Program – Antone L. Brooks (available from WSU Press, ISBN: 978-0-87422-354-5)

Nuclear Medicine Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students – D.L. Bailey, J.L. Humm, A. Todd-Pokropek, and A. van Aswegen (available from International Atomic Energy Agency, ISBN: 978-92-0-143810-2)

Principles of Nuclear Radiation Detection – Geoffrey G. Eichholz and John W. Poston (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9781315895970)

Quantitative Environmental Risk Analysis for Human Health, Second Edition – Robert A. Fjeld, Timothy A. DeVol, and Nicole E. Martinez (available from Wiley, ISBN: 978-1-119-67532-7)

Radiation Answers: Answers to Your Questions About Radiation and You – Health Physics Society (out of print, ISBN: 978-0-9825161-0-2)

Radiation Protection: The Essential Guide for Technologists, Second Edition – Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-16-0, ISBN-13: 978-1929169160)

Radiation Protection: The Essential Workbook for Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169078, ISBN-13: 978-1929169078)

Radiation Protection: Solutions Manual – David J. Dolan and Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169153, ISBN-13: 978-1929169153)

Radiation Protection: The Essential Guide for Canadian Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson and Francis E. Tourneur (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-17-7, ISBN-13: 978-1929169-17-7)

Radiation Protection: The Essential Workbook for Canadian Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson and Francis E. Tourneur (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-21-4, ISBN-13: 978-1929169-21-4)

Radiation Protection: Canadian Solutions Manual – David J. Dolan, Francis E. Tourneur, and Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-18-4, ISBN-13: 978-1929169-18-4)

Radiation Protection in Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology – Edited by Richard J. Vetter and Magdalena S. Stoeva (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 978-0-367-57521-2)

Radiation Risks in Perspective – Kenneth L. Mossman (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780367453435)

Radioactive Air Sampling Methods – Edited by Mark L. Maiello and Mark D. Hoover (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780849397172)

Radiobiology for the Radiologist, Eighth Edition – Eric J. Hall and Amato J. Giaccia (available from Wolters Kluwer, ISBN-13: 978-1-4963-3541-8, ISBN-10: 1-4963-3541-4)

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women – Kate Moore (available from Sourcebooks, ISBN: 978-1-4926-5095-9)

Silent Source – Jim Smith (available from Amazon, ISBN: 978-1939398703)

Understanding Radiation Science: Basic Nuclear and Health Physics – James Mannie Shuler (available from Universal Publishers, ISBN: 1-58112-907-6)

X-Ray Imaging: Fundamentals, Industrial Techniques and Applications – Harry E. Martz, Jr., Clint M. Logan, Daniel J. Schneberk, and Peter J. Shull (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780849397721)

Charles Wilson and Emily Caffrey

The largest Health Physics Society (HPS) meeting in years just wrapped up. When new challenges occur, we have the opportunity to grow stronger. The HPS Program Committee tried several new things during the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting and we are eager to get feedback from the rest of the community. A few specific highlights include:

1. CELs at 7:45 am and the technical program at 9:00 am.
2. Blind peer reviews of all abstracts.
3. Scheduled Q&A at the end of sessions.
4. More 20-minute talks.
5. Plenary Panel Discussions.

CELs (refresher courses) had a much higher attendance than usual. It seems like attendees appreciated the extra hour of sleep or being able to visit with colleagues a little later.

Our new program-management software includes the ability to digitally send out abstracts for blind review and ratings. For many reasons, we believe this will drastically improve the quality of the program. If you'd like to be a peer reviewer, please reach out to HPSPCannual@hps.org right after the abstract deadlines.

There were also challenges that we struggled with and hope to omit in the future. These included app duplication bugs, lack of Wi-Fi, visa complications, and a printed program. While not all of these are within our control, we can better prepare and organize for them. We plan to change the format of the printed program to include program at a glance, exhibitors, and notes only. This will increase our flexibility to respond to program changes after printing.

Do you have feedback on the meeting or recommendations for improvement? Reach out to us at HPSPCannual@hps.org!