News Archive

30 April 2024
From the President: Join Us for the IRPA16 International Congress/HPS 69th Annual Meeting in July

Liz Brackett, HPS President, 2023–2025

The technical program for the IRPA/HPS meeting is now available! Check it out here. With numerous international speakers, this is shaping up to be a great meeting. But that's not all—we have many other exciting plans in store for you. HPS is dedicated to providing a safe, welcoming, and productive experience for all participants at Society events and as we gear up for the meeting, our committees have been working hard to make sure there's something for everyone. Here are just some of the things we have planned:

At the meeting, attendees can expect to receive assistance and information, including resources for the LGBTQIA+ community, information for our international attendees provided by the International Collaboration Committee, and local area information provided by the Local Arrangements Committee. Childcare is once again available for those wishing to bring their families (click here for information and to register)—Orlando is a great family destination.

The popular "Speed Networking" event will be back this year on Monday evening, 5:30–6:30 pm. Open to all meeting registrants, this event is a whirlwind mixer designed to connect anyone looking for mentorship in health physics with those who have resources and advice to share! Participants are encouraged to bring LOTS of business cards and can certainly bring resumes or job postings if they would like. This is a great way for new attendees to find a mentor for the remainder of the conference or start a long-term mentoring relationship. This event is cohosted by the Mentorship and Student Support Committees.

For anyone who enjoys noodling on a technical health physics problem, and especially those who are preparing for (or recently completed) a certification exam, we're excited to bring back the Challenging Health Physics Questions (CHPQ) activity on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the meeting during the lunch hour. Participants will work in small groups to solve written questions authored by Drs. Deepesh Poudel and Thomas Johnson, the creators of the popular question series published in Health Physics News. Wherever you are on your technical journey, this is a great opportunity to meet health physicists from multiple disciplines and discuss practical and fundamental HP problem solving. Click here for photos and information from the 2023 CHPQ activity.

Every IRPA Congress has a public outreach event, and this year is no different! Ask the-Experts volunteer topic editors and experts will be on hand at various times throughout the conference to answer questions about radiation safety, medical exposures, waste management, nuclear power, and so much more. To increase participation and reach, the Radiation Expert "office hours" will be offered virtually, advertised locally, and available to anyone with an internet connection. Interested in volunteering? Reach out to ate@hps.org with your specialty ASAP!

Dr. Sara Dumit, the HPS nominee for the IRPA 16 Young Professional Award in Radiation Protection, is set to give an exciting presentation. Check out the teaser video and get a glimpse of what's in store for you. Don't miss this opportunity to see a rising star in the field!

Join the Membership Committee from Sunday, 7 July, through Wednesday, 10 July, at the Exhibit Hall, where you can receive HPS swag giveaways! Discover our booth for a chance to win fantastic prizes—including a beach basket, fine wine, and an exclusive HPS thermos—in our free raffle. Explore the benefits of HPS membership and learn why it's essential for professionals to stay connected in the field. Plus, take advantage of our special membership discount promotion available exclusively during the event. Whether you're already a member or considering joining, don't miss out on this opportunity to connect, engage, and win with HPS! See you at the Exhibit Hall—your gateway to a thriving community and invaluable resources.

Stay tuned for more information as we continue to plan events. We can't wait to see you at the meeting!