Answer to Question #5091 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

I'm about to go to college this fall and I know for sure that I want to major in physics because that is what I've always been interested in since I was young. But, I don't know what to do after that. I have an interest in specializing in radiation physics, but what really is that? Is radiation physics the same as health physics? Is their purpose to find safer ways for their workers and work environment? Are there any other kind of radiation physics-related jobs?

If I were to succinctly define radiation physics it would look something like:

Radiation Physics: The subcategory of physics interested in the measurement, use, and behavior of radiation with the purpose of understanding the universe and applying in a practical sense the properties of radiation for human needs.

Health Physics: The profession dedicated to the protection of humans and their environment from the harmful effects of radiation while providing for its beneficial uses.

Health physicists are radiation physicists but they really have much broader responsibilities than just the academic pursuit of radiation science. Health physicists are responsible for understanding the principles of application of all endeavors in which they are involved and then applying principles of radiation safety, assuring that these endeavors are conducted in a safe and beneficial way. This may involve anything from vast radioecology projects to the radioanalytical approaches for detecting minute quantities of radioactivity in environmental samples. And it extends through industrial and medical occupational radiation safety, studies of the translocation of radioactive material in humans, and the measurement of the radiation exposure received by workers. The occupation also engulfs development of new types of instrumentation and new systems that take advantage of radiation technology.

I guess I would caution one to not dismiss the profession of health physics and radiation safety as a narrow profession; rather it is truly a multidisciplinary profession which requires knowledge of biology, chemistry, much physics, engineering, and electronics. It is a diverse occupation, and more information can be found on the careers page of the Health Physics Society Web site. As a health physicist, I have never had an opportunity to become bored.

Are there other occupations in radiation physics than health physics? Yes, medical physics.

I hope this discourse helps in your decision-making process.

Richard R. Brey, PhD, CHP