Due South, June 2025

by Scott M. Nichelson, Self-proclaimed southernmost CRPA member in North America (at latitude 29.7° north) · June 1, 2026

Compass icon with the words "Due South" under it

Howdy y’all. As I am writing this, spring has arrived here in South Texas and the bluebonnets will hopefully be sprouting any day now.

Health Physics Society Meetings

The Health Physics Society (HPS) conducted their winter meeting in a two-day virtual format, during which they discussed alpha emitters in medical applications.

HPS will hold their annual summer meeting July 6 to 9, 2026, at Gaylord National Harbor, MD, just a few kilometers down the Potomac River from Washington, DC. You can find more information about the meeting online.

The 2027 annual HPS meeting is scheduled for July in Tacoma, WA, and the 2028 annual meeting is scheduled for July in Knoxville, TN.

State of Texas HPS Chapter Student Meeting

My home HPS chapter, the State of Texas Chapter, conducted their semiannual meeting in Waco, TX, on April 9 to 10, 2026. Typically, we have a spring and a fall meeting (usually in early October). However, in recent years, the number of student presentations has dwindled considerably, so the meetings have become more of a mixed bag of various presentations.

Sasky Pack Update

I have officially retired from the US federal government and started a part-time consulting business. Sasky (the CRPA backpack I received at the 2017 CRPA conference in Saskatoon) has been to five different continents since October 2025, but is unfortunately getting a bit camera shy. Here are three photos from my bucket list trip to Antarctica with my son—kayaking, penguins, and a Zodiac ride.

Two men in green reflective jackets sitting in an inflatable boat on the water. Snow covered mountains can be seen in the background and the sky on bright and blue.

Scott Nichelson (left) with his son on a bucket list trip to Antarctica.

People in red kyaks on dark water. THe shore is snow-covered. The sky is bright and steaked with clouds.

Scott Nichelson kyaking in Antarctica.

Penguins in Antarctica.

Scott Nichelson

Scott Nichelson, a certified health physicist and industrial hygienist, began his career in health and safety with the United States Air Force in the mid-1980s. He retired after 28 years on active duty and is currently serving as a civilian instructor for the United States Army Medical Department Center and School in San Antonio, TX. Scott discovered CRPA in 2002.

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