News Archive
Adapted with permission from the ICRP Bulletin
The International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) and the Health Physics Society (HPS) will be hosting the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting 7–12 July 2024 in Orlando, Florida. Organizing Committee Chair Kevin Nelson was recently interviewed about the meeting for the IRPA Bulletin.
What makes IRPA 16 such an attractive event?
The 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 across the world, the importance of a unified approach to the risks becomes paramount. International radiation protection organizations such as IRPA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements 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?
I will be attending the IRPA 16 Program Committee meeting in Orlando 5–9 February. We have nearly 800 abstracts to review. The quality and diversity of the abstracts is 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 is 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 meeting 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 Studios with Harry Potter, and Sea World are only a few kilometers away. A tour of Kennedy Space Center is being offered as a technical tour. At the meeting, a gala is being planned!
Is there anything specific you would like to say to encourage the radiation protection community to attend IRPA 16?
To my international colleagues, thank you for the friendship and kindnesses shown to me as the IRPA vice president for congress affairs while I was speaking to you in person or during virtual IRPA regional congress meetings the past few years. I hope to see you at the IRPA 16 meeting in Orlando in July.
To my HPS colleagues, this is a wonderful opportunity to attend an IRPA international congress meeting in your own backyard. In past IRPA international congress meetings I've attended, I have had the opportunity to meet so many colleagues who have had interests and issues I've encountered in my own workspace. Many of these colleagues have become good friends. It took us 51 years to host this meeting again on US soil. I hope you can take advantage of this opportunity … it may not come again for another 51 years.
