The sixth edition of the NEA International Radiological Protection School (IRPS) took place at Stockholm University from 12-16 August 2024. The course brought together 60 participants, both in-person and online, to enhance their understanding of the international radiological protection system.
Since the discovery of X-rays and natural radiation, experts in both national and international fora have worked towards establishing the international radiological protection (RP) system. International organisations and many relevant stakeholders at national and regional levels have helped develop and refine the principles of the RP system by sharing state-of-the-art scientific knowledge and experience accumulated over many decades.
While guidance and standards documents describe the technical facts in relation to the RP system, the body of understanding that they reflect, including how the different elements have evolved, are not well documented. To appropriately and effectively apply the RP system to situations they may face, tomorrow’s leading experts need to fully understand the “spirit” of the RP system – its nuances and history.
In an effort to respond to this challenge, the NEA in partnership with the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) and the Centre for Radiation Protection Research (CRPR) of Stockholm University, established the IRPS in 2018 to provide a deeper understanding of the RP system and how it is intended to be interpreted for application in diverse and emerging circumstances.
Designed to ensure that the depth of knowledge of the RP system is passed onto future generations of RP professionals and to further advance progress in the field, the course was chaired by Richard Wakeford, Professor in Epidemiology at the University of Manchester, and congregated around 30 international lecturers with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise.
NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV moderated a roundtable discussion on current challenges and the future of the RP system with a panel consisting of senior nuclear regulators from Sweden, the Netherlands and Japan. The consensus was that the responsibility for justification should not be limited to radiological protection experts alone. Instead, it should involve broader societal input. Participants acknowledged the need to engage a wider range of stakeholders in the decision-making process regarding justification and optimisation.
Group discussions at Stockholm University.
The NEA continues to update the programme based on feedback from participants and the speakers. The 2024 edition introduced new lectures on topics such as naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), radiological protection during armed conflicts, low-dose research, and expanded discussions on emergency preparedness, stakeholder engagement, and risk communication. Interactive case studies and group work allowed participants to apply concepts covered in the lectures and engage closely with peers and faculty staff. The course also featured a practical session on the challenges of identifying chromosomal aberrations through an on-site laboratory exercise.
IRPS 2024 attendees participate in an on-site laboratory exercise.
Another key aspect was the mini workshop held on the last day. This workshop served as an interactive platform to discuss practical challenges in the application of the RP system, linking the course content to participants’ professional experience and to benefit from the knowledge of the lecturers.
A multi-year agreement between the NEA, SSM and Stockholm University has been agreed upon for the organisation of future editions of the IRPS. This ensures consistency for the faculty and organisers to further improve future editions of the school. In addition to this, there are plans to launch an alumni network in the coming months to connect participants from previous and future editions of IRPS.
