Current News

Wade C. Morris, Chapter President

The Cincinnati Radiation Society (CRS) held its preholiday meeting on Wednesday, 20 November 2024, to elect/reelect officers and to take a look back in history to when the CRS was formed by Bob Gallaghar in 1953 so we can prepare a vision for the future. The meeting was held at the University of Cincinnati, where an abundance of conversation, pizza, and beverages of all types freely flowed throughout the evening.

The slate of newly elected officers includes Doug Draper as president-elect, Terry Lindley as secretary/treasurer, and Halder Hernandez to the Board of Directors. Existing members of the Board of Directors include Henry Spitz and Mutty Sharfi. The interests of the CRS membership and the mission of the Cincinnati Radiation Society maintain a strong focus on the science that promotes radiological safety and health for workers, the population, and the environment. Although the majority of past CRS members were employed at former Department of Energy facilities, new members are mostly from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), NIOSH contractors, hospitals, and other related industries that have an interest in radiation safety. Wade Morris summarized recent activities of the CRS showing how the current membership maintains strong support for their professional organization. Tim Taulbee followed with a suggestion for outreach to share CRS meetings via Zoom with other nearby Health Physics Society (HPS) chapters to promote collaboration in our geographical area. Although the CRS has a long history that predates the formal organization of the HPS, the membership and officers of the CRS are looking forward to a productive and exciting future.

Attendees at the CRS November meeting
Photo courtesy of Tim Taulbee

CRS Executive Council
Photo courtesy of Tim Taulbee

CRS November meeting
Photo courtesy of Wade Morris

Steve Grimm, Section President

The Academic, Industrial, and Research Radiation Safety (AIRRS) Section of the Health Physics Society (HPS) presented the 2024 Outstanding Radiation Safety Program Award to the University of Utah, Radiation Safety, Environmental Health and Safety. The award was presented at the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting in Orlando in July 2024 during the AIRRS Section business meeting.

The AIRRS Section would like to invite all HPS/AIRRS Section members for an online presentation (via Zoom) from the University of Utah describing its outstanding radiation safety program. Other items and announcements will be discussed as well. The meeting will be held at 3 pm Eastern on 2 December 2024, and the Zoom link will be published soon. Stay tuned!

Please take a moment now to renew your Health Physics Society membership so you continue to receive the many benefits provided to Society members. The HPS Membership Committee kindly reminds you to update your directory information while completing your membership renewal, including specifying up to two health physics specialties.

If you are not yet a member of HPS, but would like to join, please click here to view the benefits of membership and click here to join.

The election for Health Physics Society (HPS) leaders who will take office at the 2025 HPS Annual Meeting will be taking place soon. Watch for opening and closing dates and make sure you take part in choosing your leadership for the coming years. Candidates for office for 2025–2026 are:

Treasurer-elect: Deirdre Elder and Kathy McLellan

Director: Sara Dumit, William Irwin, George Tabatadze, and Zach Tribbett

There will also be a vote on some bylaws changes. Check back on the Current News page for more information as it becomes available.

The Health Physics Society is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar and roundtable discussion on Fusion Health Physics, to be held virtually on Monday, 2 December 2024, 12–2 pm Eastern. With the Lawrence Livermore National Lab's National Ignition Facility achieving fusion ignition for the first time ever in December 2022, the exciting world of fusion health physics has never been more eminent! Join us for a webinar and roundtable discussion that introduces the health physics community to the exciting and challenging world of fusion health physics.

Featured speakers

Andrew Holland, CEO of the Fusion Industry Association, will set the stage with an overview of the fusion industry. Scott Hsu, Senior Advisor and Lead Fusion Coordinator in the DOE's Office of the Under Secretary for Science and Innovation, will provide the federal strategy. Heather Jackson, Technology to Market Advisor for ARPA-E, will prep us for the roundtable by introducing key fusion health physics topics of interest.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and contribute to the future of radiation safety.

Register here today and join us on Monday, 2 December!

Andrew Holland

Scott Hsu

Heather Jackson

The December short course offerings have been posted on the Short Courses page of the HPS website. Information on the following courses is available:

Laser Safety Officer (LSO) Training—Kentek Corporation

Online Health Physics Certification Review Course—Colorado State University Professional Education

Certification Review Course Part I and Self Study Course Part I—Bevelacqua Resources

Certification Review Course Part II and Self Study Course Part II—Bevelacqua Resources

MARSSIM—ORAU's Professional Training Programs

MARSSIM for Managers Online Training Course—ORAU's Professional Training Program

Facility Decommissioning Training Course—Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)

Nathaniel Rutter, PhD student in radiological health sciences

Drilling rigs used to drill 450 feet into the earth to access the ore body
Photo courtesy of Dr. Tom Johnson

CSU students posing in front of hydrochloric acid tanks used in fuel processing
Photo courtesy of Dr. Tom Johnson

CSU students on a tour of the well field with Ryan Schierman standing next to an injection well
Photo courtesy of Dr. Tom Johnson

On Friday, 8 November 2024, students funded through a Mountains & Plains Education and Research Center (MAP ERC) grant toured the Lost Creek in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium mine north of Rawlins, Wyoming.

The day started with a 225-mile drive north from Colorado State University to the Great Basin and red desert of Wyoming. Surprisingly, driving into the compound did not reveal any large pits, excavators, or grandiose mining equipment. Instead, we were greeted by relatively undisturbed land, wild horses and antelopes, and small mounds of topsoil.

As we arrived at the uranium processing plant, Chris Pedersen (radiation safety officer), Oscar Paulson (special projects manager), and Ryan Schierman (vice president of regulatory affairs) directed the group up to their conference room, where we received a short introduction to in-situ uranium mining. They explained that the ISR process focuses on noninvasive mobilization of uranium minerals using oxygenated and carbonated (CO2) water (lixiviant). Wells approximately 137 meters deep are drilled in a grid-like pattern across the landscape to access the orebody underground. Injection wells are pumped with oxygenated/carbonated water solution that flows through the ore, effectively mobilizing the uranium by changing its oxidation state. The uranium-containing water (pregnant lixiviant) then flows to a recovery well located in the center of the grid. The recovery well pumps water up from the ground at a high flow rate, forcing the mineralized water solution to follow a calculated path. This process prevents any mobilized uranium solution from leaching into groundwater aquifers. The solution is then pumped into a well house then into the plant for processing.

As we learned, each step is highly controlled and scrutinized to prevent violations and loss of uranium. As soon as geologists assess the land to determine where to drill, the team is under strict rules and regulations, and their job does not end until the yellowcake is dried and safely packaged for shipping. Chris's job as the RSO is to ensure that the workers in the plant and well field are protected from radiation dose, as well as ensuring that uranium mining regulations are being followed. That includes routine testing of equipment and use of personnel monitoring equipment (dosimeters) to measure an individual's exposure to ionizing radiation. If doses are at a dangerous level, or PPE is not working sufficiently, or if contamination is detected in places that could present a hazard to worker health or safety, it's his job to assess and correct the plant's processes to protect workers and the environment.

In our tour of the plant, we got to shadow his daily duties, including monitoring of surfaces and air for contamination and learning how he is using shielding to reduce radiation dose rates in high-traffic areas of the facility. We also got to see how the uranium solution is processed through extraction and recovery columns, which represent a large area of the main warehouse.

Overall, the Lost Creek mine tour was highly educational and a very exciting experience to step out of the classroom to witness the first step in the nuclear energy infrastructure.

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

The 3rd Annual Advanced Reactor Codes and Standards Collaborative (ARCSC) Workshop will be held 4 December 2024, 10 am–5 pm EST. This hybrid workshop will cover the following topics:

• The collaborative's progress to date.
• Results of ARCSC's gap assessment and validation surveys, including the standards development organizations' and advanced reactor designers' standards priorities and resource needs.
• Risk-informed, performance-based (RIPB) approaches to support development of industry RIPB guidelines/standards.
• Future ARCSC actions.

Registration for the workshop is required: in-person attendees click here and remote participants click here.

For more information on ARCSC, click here. If you have questions, contact ARCSC Secretary Pat Schroeder.

HPS Web Operations

Health Physics Society (HPS) chapter and section leaders, please make sure the names and contact information for the officers of your chapter/section are updated on the HPS website. This information needs to be current for you to be able to submit the required chapter/section report. Contact Web Ops Editor in Chief Barbara Hamrick or Web Ops Technical Editor Craig Little to update your information.

Brant Ulsh, CHP, PhD, Health Physics Editor in Chief

The future has arrived! The January 2025 issue of the Health Physics Journal is the first since our move to online only (no print version). In keeping with our focus on the future, the January issue spotlights students' research. Please visit the Journal's website and see the cutting edge of radiation protection research. You will find papers on the following topics, and many others:

• Risk Assessment for Nuclear Terrorism Probability and Its Application on a Hypothetical Nuclear Facility
• Implementing a Phase II Quality Control Protocol for a High Precision ¹³⁷Cs Dosimetry Calibration Irradiator
• TENORM Regulation in the United States of America Post-West Virginia vs. EPA
• A Novel Shielding Device for Cardiac Cath Labs

While you are there, browse the collections, metrics, related articles, etc. Welcome to the new era of the Health Physics Journal!

Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism: Their Science, Effects, Prevention, and Recovery, authored by Health Physics Society (HPS) member P. Andrew Karam, was published in 2021. This book discusses multiple aspects of radiological and nuclear terrorism. Whether you are an emergency responder, a medical caregiver, a public health official—even a member of the public wanting to know how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe—there is a need to understand how these weapons work, how radiation affects our health, how to stop an attack from taking place, how to respond appropriately in the event of an emergency, and much more.

For more information on Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism: Their Science, Effects, Prevention, and Recovery and to order a copy, please visit the Books by HPS Members page on the HPS website. The books are listed in alphabetical order by author's last name.

HPS Web Operations

Did you know that the Health Physics Society (HPS) website contains pages that list links to other websites of interest to health physicists? The wealth of information on these websites is ready for your browsing.

The page Links to Other Websites of Interest, on the public side of the HPS website, is organized into the following groups:

1. Organizations that are directly involved in radiation protection, health physics, occupational safety, and industrial hygiene.
2. Organizations that deal with some aspects of radiation science, nuclear energy, environmental science, medicine, and health risk.
3. Organizations that are within or related to the HPS.
4. Government agency websites.

The page Web Links Suggested by HPS Members, on the Members Only side of the HPS website, contains links that have been suggested, recommended, or otherwise identified by HPS members. There is a submission button on the top of the page where members can add links that they think will be useful to other members. This page is organized into the following categories:

1. Bioassay and Internal Dosimetry
2. Business Site
3. Calculators
4. Chapter Websites
5. Continuing Education
6. Department of Energy
7. Dose Assessment Tools
8. DOT IATA Training
9. Educational
10. Environmental Radioactivity
11. Fukushima
12. Government Sites
13. Health Physic Training
14. Miscellaneous
15. Museums and Historical Sites
16. Nonionizing Radiation: RF
17. NRRPT Course
18. Nuclear Science and Health Physics Related Blogs
19. Online CHP Course
20. Online HAZWOPER Training
21. Positions Needed
22. Power Reactor Health Physics
23. Radiation Protection Organizations
24. Radiochemistry
25. Resume Posting Service
26. Risk Assessment

Liz Brackett, HPS President, 2023–2025

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has announced an opportunity for member organizations, which includes the Health Physics Society (HPS), to nominate a staff member for the role of Technical Secretary.

This is a rare opportunity for individuals to contribute to global efforts in radiological protection, play a key role in the review and revision of the System of Radiological Protection, grow their network, and get an inside view of ICRP.

The position is based on cost-free remote work providing a rewarding and beneficial experience for both the individual and the sponsoring organization. The incumbent would need to dedicate a maximum of 4-6 days per month and report directly to the Deputy Scientific Secretary.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing active support of and involvement in task groups, acting as a link with the Scientific Secretariat.
• Organizing task group meetings, keeping documents, and reporting on the progress of task group work.
• May also include writing and editing text for technical purposes and producing easy-to-read summaries for a broad audience.
• Summarizing publications, bios, and other tasks.
• Being involved in special projects as needed and assigned by the Deputy Scientific Secretary.

This role offers unparalleled exposure to the inner workings of the ICRP and its global network of top radiological protection experts.

Duration of the assignment is at least one year, with the possibility for annual extensions based on performance.

Eligibility

Candidates nominated for the position of Technical Secretary must be fluent in the English language and have competencies in the areas of work of ICRP committees and task groups.

Application

Applications are required to come from HPS rather than directly from the applicant, so please send an email to Liz Brackett before 12 December 2024 indicating an interest in the position of ICRP Technical Secretary, your CV, and a brief proposal including how much of your time would be dedicated to ICRP activities (ideally about 1 day per week). Multiple candidates may be accepted by the ICRP.

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has announced that ICRP Publication 155: Specific Absorbed Fractions for Reference Paediatric Individuals, authored by several Health Physics Society members, is now available on ICRP.org. Click here to read the abstract and access the report.

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

Newly released by the Biden-Harris administration, Safely and Responsibly Expanding US Nuclear Energy: Deployment Targets and a Framework for Action "outlines pathways to expand domestic nuclear energy and describes how the US government, US nuclear industry, and workforce can capitalize on this moment for the American people." Click here to read the document. Click here for more information. 

The Health Physics Academic Education and Research Center (HPAERC) is a nonprofit entity founded in the summer of 2023. It is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization separate from but supported by the Health Physics Society. The HPAERC Board of Directors is chaired by Elizabeth Gillenwalters, with Vice-chair Jerry Thomas, Treasurer Frazier Bronson, and members David Connolly, Jason Harris, Tom Johnson, Mark Sommerville, Troy Prutzman, and Joe Guido. HPAERC's mission is to raise funds to support students and faculty in the field of radiation protection and health physics, supported by endowment funding.

HPAERC is seeking volunteers for two important committees: the Fundraising Committee and the Awards Committee. The Fundraising Committee will strategize potential donors, be they individuals, corporations, or government entities, and will develop solicitation and recognition strategies with guidance from Susan Kelly of Kelly Strategies. The Awards Committee will develop criteria for awards and procedures for soliciting applications. Committees would be expected to commence in January 2025. Leadership of the committees has not yet been named, but anyone interested in serving on one of these important and consequential committees, please contact Elizabeth Gillenwalters.

William (Rusty) Lorenzen, FHPS, Chapter President

As we continue to build momentum, there have been a few recent activities that the New England Chapter of the Health Physics Society (NECHPS) has undertaken.

On 23–27 September, Counterterrorism Operations Support (CTOS) Center for Radiological Nuclear Training provided the first Radiological Operations Support Specialist (ROSS) course held in Massachusetts. We had 20 participants and will be hosting another class in May of 2025.

On 27 October, we held a joint virtual meeting with the Delaware Valley Society for Radiation Safety (DVSRS). HPS President-elect Mike Lewandowski spoke about radiation gauging.

The NECHPS participated in and cohosted the New England Radiological Health Compact (NERHC) annual meeting in Portland, Maine, 28 October–1 November. This brought together many of the regulatory agencies for New England discussing the various radiological program topics and challenges. It also featured some interesting presentations on emergency response, new reactor design, and fusion.

The NECHPS will also hold its annual holiday vendor social on 12 December. This is always a crowd pleaser as we will have a number of raffles and libations for all.

Lastly, we are proud and pleased to announce we have completed the merger of the Connecticut Chapter into the New England Chapter. This was accomplished over many months of work to amend both the NECHPS bylaws and the chapter's Charter. We can finally say that the New England Chapter truly includes all six New England states.

Nominations are now open for the following positions on the Medical Health Physics Section Board of Directors:

• President-elect
• Secretary/Treasurer
• Director

If you are interested, please send your name, contact information, and a short bio to Tom Morgan at [email protected], 585-259-9802 (cell).

Health Physics Society (HPS) member Richard Allen Ratliff died 22 October 2024. His obituary can be found on the HPS website In Memoriam page.

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to revise the NRC's regulations by adding a risk-informed, performance-based, and technology-inclusive regulatory framework for commercial nuclear plants in response to the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA). The NRC plans to hold a public meeting to promote full understanding of the proposed rule and facilitate public comments. Submit comments by 30 December 2024. For more information, click here.

According to a recent press release, Constellation has announced that it has signed an agreement with Microsoft to launch the Crane Clean Energy Center and restart Three Mile Island Unit 1. Under the agreement, Microsoft will purchase energy from the renewed plant as part of its goal to help match the power its data centers in PJM use with carbon-free energy. For more information, see the press release and an NPR article.

Mike Lewandowski, FHPS, CHP, Local Arrangements Committee

The 70th Health Physics Society (HPS) Annual Meeting will be held 13–17 July 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin.

HPS members spend a lot of time in technical sessions and continuing education during the annual meeting. However, during the evening and on the days before and after those sessions, there is some time to enjoy the host city. Madison is a fantastic place for you to experience with your family. In this article we'll touch on just a few reasons that will encourage you to bring your young children with you.

Henry Vilas Zoo
Photo by Sharon Vanorny, courtesy of Destination Madison

Henry Vilas Zoo is one of my favorite spaces in Madison. For more than a century, the Henry Vilas Zoo has been the home to animals from all over the world, providing a great way for visitors of all ages to meet and see these ambassadors from the animal kingdom. There are colorful birds and energetic otters, playful penguins and majestic lions and tigers. You'll even get a chance to meet Wisconsin's state animal, the badger. There is a train, a carousel, and even a playground to help burn off the excitement the zoo is sure to create. You'll need transportation to get to the zoo, but parking and admission are always free.

Children's Museum rooftop garden
Photo by Sharon Vanorny, courtesy of Destination Madison

Just a short walk from the Concourse Hotel or the Monona Terrace Convention Center is the Madison Children's Museum. This interactive museum serves up a wide variety of spaces for young children to explore and learn. The activities are fun and totally hands-on. You're expected to touch and climb on most of the exhibits. It's a perfect way to spend a morning or afternoon, especially if the hotel room is feeling a little small. Be sure to head up to the rooftop garden and visit the chickens and homing pigeons. The view of the city will be appreciated by adults as well.

There is a lot more to do in Madison. The Local Arrangements Committee (LAC) is building a curated list that will be posted on the meeting website in the near future. If you can't wait, explore what Madison has to offer at the Destination Madison website. Mark your calendar right now for 13–17 July 2025 to attend the 70th HPS Annual Meeting in Madison. If you have questions, feel free to contact LAC Cochairs Jessica Joyce and Jason Rusch.

Rick Whitman, Chapter President

The Hoosier Chapter held its fall meeting on 24 October 2024 at the Rathskellar Restaurant in Indianapolis.

We had 22 in attendance, representing a wide variety of professional health physics areas. Our speaker for the evening, Dr. Patrick Byrne, CHP, DABR, DABSNM, made an announcement that Dr. Jason Harris and Dr. Rick Whitman had achieved Health Physics Society (HPS) Fellow status at the HPS annual meeting in July.

Patrick then followed with the presentation "Nuclear Medicine Dose Estimation - Current Practice and Future Outlook." His medical background made this presentation fascinating to all. He began by covering the early historic uses of isotopes in nuclear medicine and made connections to how the current commonly used doses were developed. Patrick also provided information on the recent development of International Commission on Radiological Protection, International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements, and US Nuclear Regulatory Commission differences in organ weighting and the current introduction of accelerator-produced isotopes.

Our next meeting will be in the spring of 2025 when we plan to have HPS President-elect Mike Lewandowski in attendance. At that point we plan to invite nearby chapters to attend our meeting.

Hoosier Chapter fall meeting at the Rathskellar Restaurant in Indianapolis
Photo courtesy of Rick Whitman

Hoosier Chapter meeting speaker Dr. Patrick Byrne
Photo courtesy of Rick Whitman

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

The 2024 edition of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Climate Change and Nuclear Power report was released in September. The report, highlighting the need for a significant increase in investment to achieve goals for expanding nuclear power, was launched on the margins of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in Brazil. More information is available on the IAEA website.

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

Have you ever thought about putting your name forward to join the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Main Commission or one of its four committees?

The ICRP has announced that the nomination window for its 2025–2029 (1 July 2025–30 June 2029) term will open in mid-to-late November 2024. During this period, nominees will have the opportunity to be considered for elected positions on the Main Commission and four standing committees.

The nomination window will open next month, and more details about nomination packages and how to submit them will be available then. In the meantime, click here to read more about our election process!

Emily Caffrey, 2025 Workshop Cochair

Dates have been finalized for the THIRD Health Physics Society (HPS) Workshop. The workshop, on fusion and nonionizing health physics, will be held 31 March–1 April 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

But wait, that's not all! The Professional Development School "Overview of the Nonionizing Radiation Spectrum" will be held after the workshop, 1–4 April 2025. Make plans now to attend both.

With the Lawrence Livermore National Lab's National Ignition Facility achieving fusion ignition for the first time ever in December 2022, the exciting world of fusion health physics has never been more eminent. Join us for a comprehensive workshop that delves into the latest advancements and challenges in both fusion and nonionizing radiation. Learn from industry experts and network with peers as we explore the potential of fusion energy and the importance of safeguarding human health in a nonionizing radiation environment. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and contribute to the future of radiation safety.

Abstracts on fusion and nonionizing radiation topics are welcome. Please submit your abstract through this link. The deadline for submitting abstracts is 31 January 2025. Please note there will be no extensions; instead, if you need a little more time, reserve a slot by contacting the task force chair with your subject and topic.

IRPA 16 Young Professionals holding their certificates
Submitted photo

US Delegation to IRPA 16: Front row left to right, Sara Dumit, Caleigh Samuels, Carolyn MacKenzie, Kevin Nelson, Mike Mahathy, Elizabeth Brackett, Latha Vasudevan, Emily Caffrey, Kendall Berry, and Mike Boyd. Back row left to right, Scott Schwahn, Derek Jokisch, Jonathan Napier, Mike Lewandowski, Nolan Hertel, and Charles Wilson.
Submitted photo

Health Physics Society Women in Radiation Protection Section social event at IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting
Submitted photo

Held jointly by the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) and the Health Physics Society (HPS), the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting took place 7–12 July 2024 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. The schedule on Monday, 9 July, included the Opening Ceremony, Keynote Lecture, Sievert Lecture, Plenary Panel #1, and Plenary Panel #2.

Photos courtesy of Stan Bravenac

Opening Ceremony Remarks

Kevin Nelson
IRPA 16 Congress President

Bernard le Guen
IRPA President

Elizabeth Brackett
HPS President

Renate Czarwinski
IRPA 16 Program Committee Chair

Charles Wilson
Task Force Chair
HPS Program Committee

Opening Ceremony Keynote Lecture

Norman Thagard
NASA (Retired)

Sievert Lecture

Dr. María del Rosario Pérez
La Autoridad Regulatoria Nuclear Board of Directors Advisor

Plenary Panel #1: "The Systems of RP for Ionising & Non-Ionising Radiation"

Plenary Panel #1, left to right, John O'Hagan (Cochair), Emilie van Deventer, Sigurður Magnús Magnússon, Kathryn A. Higley, Werner Rühm, Sara Dumit (Rapporteur), Rodney Croft, and Christopher Clement (Chair)

Plenary Panel #2: Current Status of the Scientific Basis for Radiation Safety, Protection Recommendations, and International Standards

Plenary Panel #2, left to right, John Damilakis, Charles Wilson (Rapporteur), Jing Chen, Pete Bryant, Renate Czarwinski (Cochair), Thierry Schneider, Hildegarde Annie A. Vandenhove, Shengli Niu, Bernard le Guen, and Kevin Nelson (Chair)

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is seeking public comments through 18 December 2024 on its updated proposal to streamline environmental reviews for new nuclear reactors by codifying the NRC's draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Licensing of New Nuclear Reactors, or NR GEIS. The GEIS aims to identify common environmental impacts, reducing the need to perform a number of extensive project-specific analyses and potentially saving up to $2 million per application. For more information click here.

Add the dates of the following Health Physics Society meetings to your calendar. Check the Meetings and Conferences page of the website for the most current information.

• 70th HPS Annual Meeting - 2025
  13–17 July 2025, Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, WI
  
  Hotel Reservations
  HPS has secured discounted room blocks at three hotels for Madison. Below are the links to secure discounted rooms.
  
  The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor's Club
  1 W. Dayton St. | Madison, WI 53703
  Rate: 168/night + tax
  
  Hilton Madison Monona Terrace
  9 East Wilson Street | Madison, WI 53703
  Rate: $211/night + tax
  
  Embassy Suites by Hilton Madison Downtown
  231 S. Pinckney Street | Madison, WI 53703
  Rate: $169/night + tax
  
  Reserve your room before the block sells out!
   
• 71st HPS Annual Meeting - 2026
  5–9 July 2026, Gaylord National Harbor, MD

HPS Web Operations

Stephen Samson Mkoloma, left, accepts his book from HPS News Editor Mary Walchuk
Submitted photo

Stephen Samson Mkoloma from Dar es Salaam Tanzania won a copy of Fundamentals of Health Physics & Radiation Protection, by Philip C. Fulmer, at the HPS Publications Booth book drawing at the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

We gave away more than 50 great books and enjoyed meeting and talking with so many people about HPS publications and the HPS website!

Thank you to the authors, editors, and publishers who donated over $4,000 worth of books, including fiction and nonfiction, covering a wide range of topics.

If you saw a book that you would like, but didn't win, click on the links below for ordering information.

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer – Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin (available from Penguin Random House, ISBN 9780375726262)

An Introduction to Radiation Protection in Medicine – Edited by Jamie V. Trapp and Tomas Kron (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN 9781584889649)

The Atomic City Girls – Janet Beard (available from HarperCollinsPublishers, ISBN: 9780062666710)

At Work in the Atomic City: A Labor and Social History of Oak Ridge, Tennessee – Russell B. Olwell (available from The University of Tennessee Press, ISBN 13: 978-1-57233-644-5, ISBN 10: 1-57233-644-7)

City Behind a Fence: Oak Ridge, Tennessee 1942–1946 – Charles W. Johnson and Charles O. Jackson (available from The University of Tennessee Press, ISBN: 978-0-87049-309-6)

Critical Connections: The University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge from the Dawn of the Atomic Age to the Present – Lee Riedinger, Al Ekkebus, Ray Smith, and William Bugg (available from The University of Tennessee Press, ISBN 13: 978-1621906544, ISBN 10: 162190654X)

Dead Hot – M.K. Coker (available from Amazon, ISBN-10: 1545120609, ISBN-13: ‎978-1545120606)

Decommissioning Health Physics: A Handbook for MARRSIM Users, Second Edition – Eric W. Abelquist (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780367867133)

Environmental Health, Fourth Edition – Dade W. Moeller (available from Harvard University Press, ISBN: 9780674047402)

Fundamentals of Health Physics & Radiation Protection – Dr. Philip C. Fulmer (available from Amazon, ISBN-13: ‎979-8989597901)

The Girls of Atomic City – Denise Kernan (available from Simon & Schuster, ISBN: 978-1-4516-1752-8)

The Health Physics Solutions Manual, Third Edition – Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169051, ISBN-13: 978-1929169054)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – Rebecca Skloot (available from Penguin Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-5218-9)

Khan’s The Physics of Radiation Therapy, Sixth Edition – John P. Gibbons (available from Wolters Kluwer, ISBN: 9781496397522)

Laser Safety Management – Ken Barat (available from CRC Press, ISBN 9780824723071)

Low Dose Radiation: The History of the U.S. Department of Energy Research Program – Antone L. Brooks (available from WSU Press, ISBN: 978-0-87422-354-5)

Nuclear Medicine Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students – D.L. Bailey, J.L. Humm, A. Todd-Pokropek, and A. van Aswegen (available from International Atomic Energy Agency, ISBN: 978-92-0-143810-2)

Principles of Nuclear Radiation Detection – Geoffrey G. Eichholz and John W. Poston (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9781315895970)

Quantitative Environmental Risk Analysis for Human Health, Second Edition – Robert A. Fjeld, Timothy A. DeVol, and Nicole E. Martinez (available from Wiley, ISBN: 978-1-119-67532-7)

Radiation Answers: Answers to Your Questions About Radiation and You – Health Physics Society (out of print, ISBN: 978-0-9825161-0-2)

Radiation Protection: The Essential Guide for Technologists, Second Edition – Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-16-0, ISBN-13: 978-1929169160)

Radiation Protection: The Essential Workbook for Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169078, ISBN-13: 978-1929169078)

Radiation Protection: Solutions Manual – David J. Dolan and Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169153, ISBN-13: 978-1929169153)

Radiation Protection: The Essential Guide for Canadian Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson and Francis E. Tourneur (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-17-7, ISBN-13: 978-1929169-17-7)

Radiation Protection: The Essential Workbook for Canadian Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson and Francis E. Tourneur (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-21-4, ISBN-13: 978-1929169-21-4)

Radiation Protection: Canadian Solutions Manual – David J. Dolan, Francis E. Tourneur, and Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-18-4, ISBN-13: 978-1929169-18-4)

Radiation Protection in Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology – Edited by Richard J. Vetter and Magdalena S. Stoeva (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 978-0-367-57521-2)

Radiation Risks in Perspective – Kenneth L. Mossman (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780367453435)

Radioactive Air Sampling Methods – Edited by Mark L. Maiello and Mark D. Hoover (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780849397172)

Radiobiology for the Radiologist, Eighth Edition – Eric J. Hall and Amato J. Giaccia (available from Wolters Kluwer, ISBN-13: 978-1-4963-3541-8, ISBN-10: 1-4963-3541-4)

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women – Kate Moore (available from Sourcebooks, ISBN: 978-1-4926-5095-9)

Silent Source – Jim Smith (available from Amazon, ISBN: 978-1939398703)

Understanding Radiation Science: Basic Nuclear and Health Physics – James Mannie Shuler (available from Universal Publishers, ISBN: 1-58112-907-6)

X-Ray Imaging: Fundamentals, Industrial Techniques and Applications – Harry E. Martz, Jr., Clint M. Logan, Daniel J. Schneberk, and Peter J. Shull (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780849397721)

Charles Wilson and Emily Caffrey

The largest Health Physics Society (HPS) meeting in years just wrapped up. When new challenges occur, we have the opportunity to grow stronger. The HPS Program Committee tried several new things during the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting and we are eager to get feedback from the rest of the community. A few specific highlights include:

1. CELs at 7:45 am and the technical program at 9:00 am.
2. Blind peer reviews of all abstracts.
3. Scheduled Q&A at the end of sessions.
4. More 20-minute talks.
5. Plenary Panel Discussions.

CELs (refresher courses) had a much higher attendance than usual. It seems like attendees appreciated the extra hour of sleep or being able to visit with colleagues a little later.

Our new program-management software includes the ability to digitally send out abstracts for blind review and ratings. For many reasons, we believe this will drastically improve the quality of the program. If you'd like to be a peer reviewer, please reach out to [email protected] right after the abstract deadlines.

There were also challenges that we struggled with and hope to omit in the future. These included app duplication bugs, lack of Wi-Fi, visa complications, and a printed program. While not all of these are within our control, we can better prepare and organize for them. We plan to change the format of the printed program to include program at a glance, exhibitors, and notes only. This will increase our flexibility to respond to program changes after printing.

Do you have feedback on the meeting or recommendations for improvement? Reach out to us at [email protected]!