News Archive

12 July 2021
Hybrid 2021 HPS Annual Meeting Starts Next Week

Charles Wilson, 2021 Annual Meeting Task Force Chair

Get ready! The virtual portion of the hybrid 2021 Health Physics Society (HPS) Annual Meeting starts next week, and we have a jam-packed exceptional program. Quick—there is still time to register here.

The Program Committee has worked hard to meet the challenges over the past year and is very appreciative of all the speakers, chairs, and section officers who have worked with us to build a quality program. We have speakers across the globe connecting to a new form of meeting for the HPS.

A few frequently asked questions:

How do I register for the virtual-only portion (20 and 22 July)? The virtual week is included for all registrants automatically. Anyone registering for the hybrid week will automatically receive connection information before the meeting begins.

What do I need to download for the virtual week or as a remote attendee for the hybrid portion (25–29 July)? Nothing. The platform (SignalWire) for the program is completely browser based. A link will be sent to you to connect.

I'm giving a talk but haven't heard anything lately. Reach out to the Program Committee ASAP! This could mean our communication has been filtered or we don't have your contact information. All remote speakers and chairs should be practicing test connections with Cassidy Burk currently. All speakers should be uploading PowerPoint presentations for review. And all prerecorded speakers should be uploading their MP4 files.

What can I do if two sessions I want to see are happening at the same time? This is one of the reasons hybrid is great. All sessions will be recorded, and you can watch them later.

Here are a few final program highlights:

Remember the exceptional Academic, Industrial, Research Radiation Safety (AIRRS) Section virtual session last year? AIRRS is doing it again. New topics, new speakers, with polling-the-audience interaction. Log in to participate on 22 July.

Does radiation safety overemphasize prudence not backed by science? Monday afternoon (26 July) features a five-person panel, moderated by incoming HPS President Dr. John Cardarelli, that will discuss the conservatism approach in radiation safety and how opinions from five corners for radiation see it.

Get an update on the latest with the HPS Government Relations Program Tuesday morning (28 July) featuring HPS Congressional Liaison David Connolly and speakers from industry, the US Department of Energy, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Join the Environmental Section of the HPS in covering environmental justice Wednesday afternoon (28 July) in a special session covering how environmental justice efforts can be applied to address actions of the nuclear industry in the past, present, and future.

See previous newsletter articles for more information about several of the other topics, including a veterinary health physics special session, a three-part pandemic special session, a full-day special session on the cesium irradiator incident in Harborview, the future of health physics, and more.

3MT Competition

Students—there is still time to sign up for the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Email Emily Caffrey for your chance to win an Amazon gift card.

2022 North American Regional Congress Coming Soon

Finally, the Program Committee has begun working on the 2022 HPS/IRPA North American Regional Congress (20–24 February, Saint Louis, Missouri). Have any ideas for talks or speakers? Contact Charles Wilson.