What to Expect at the 16th International Radiation Protection Association International Congress

What makes IRPA16 such an attractive event?

The International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) International Congress is a unique opportunity for radiation protection professionals from around the world to gather every four years to discuss common issues and solutions. It’s the Olympics of radiation protection meetings!

What does the conference theme, Radiation Harmonization: Standing United for Protection, mean to you?

As the use of radiation increases around the world, the importance of a unified approach to the risks becomes paramount. International radiation protection organizations such as IRPA, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), and National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) play a critical role in this unified approach.

As a member of the organizing committee, what do you think attendees have to look forward to at IRPA 16?

At the IRPA 16 Program Committee meeting in February, we reviewed nearly 800 abstracts. The quality and diversity of the abstracts were outstanding.

For those attending IRPA 16, you can look forward to some wonderful talks and posters submitted by some of the world’s leading experts in radiation protection. In addition, this will be an outstanding opportunity to network with your colleagues.

What are you, personally, most looking forward to?

For me, IRPA 16 will mark the end of a wonderful 11-year journey to bring this meeting to the United States for the first time in 51 years. My sincere hope is that radiation protection professionals who have not previously had the opportunity to attend an IRPA International Congress will avail themselves of this opportunity.

 What topic(s) do you think will generate the most discussion?

I am biased, but I think IRPA 16 will have interesting talks and posters for everyone. In particular, I believe a series of talks and discussion related to the revision of ICRP’s system of radiation protection will garner much interest.

 What sort of social events are being organized?

The Orlando area offers unparalleled entertainment opportunities for IRPA 16 attendees. Disney World, Universal Studio with with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Sea World are all only a few kilometres away.

In addition, a tour of Kennedy Space Center is being offered as a technical tour, and a gala is being planned as part of the meeting!

Is there anything you would like to say to encourage the radiation protection community to attend IRPA 16?

I would like to remind my Health Physics Society (HPS) colleagues that this is a wonderful opportunity to attend an IRPA International Congress in your own backyard. IRPA International Congresses I’ve attended have provided me with opportunities to meet many colleagues who have had interests and issues I’ve encountered in my own work. Many of these colleagues have become good friends. It has taken us 51 years to host this meeting on US soil again, so I hope you can take advantage of this opportunity—it may not come again for another 51 years.

I also hope to see many of my international colleagues at IRPA 16. I want to thank you for the friendship and kindnesses shown to me as the IRPA vice president for congress affairs when I was speaking to you in person or virtually as part of the IRPA regional Congress meetings the past few years.