News Archive
Kevin Nelson, IRPA 16 Organizing Committee Chair
Held jointly by the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) and the Health Physics Society (HPS), the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting will take place 7–12 July 2024 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. Here is information on events you should be sure to attend.
The Associates Societies Forum (ASF), being held Sunday, 7 July, is an opportunity to present topics of interest to all IRPA Associate Societies. HPS in one of 53 IRPA Associate Societies. An update from all IRPA Task Groups will be presented, as well as brief presentations from those running for IRPA Executive Council for the next term and from Associate Societies wishing to host IRPA 18 in 2032. It will be similar to our HPS Business Meeting.
We are really excited about the Opening Ceremony for IRPA 16 on Monday, 8 July! All attendees are welcome and are encouraged to attend. As part of the Landauer Lectureship, we have arranged to have a former NASA astronaut speak at the Opening Ceremony. This only makes sense since we are so close to the Space Coast. As the chair of the IRPA 16 Organizing Committee, I will be moderating this session. You will also hear remarks from IRPA President Bernard Le Guen, HPS President Elizabeth Brackett, and IRPA 16 Program Committee Chair Renate Czarwinski. Come early as we may have a surprise waiting for you.
The Seivert Lecture will occur immediately following the Opening Ceremony on Monday. The Rolf M. Sievert Award is IRPA's highest award in recognition of outstanding contributions to radiological protection, and the award honors the memory of a leader and pioneer in radiological protection, Professor Rolf Sievert. This year's recipient, Dr. María del Rosario Pérez, is from Argentina. From 2007 to 2022, Pérez worked at the World Health Organization (WHO) Radiation Program. Currently, she serves as an advisor of the Board of Directors of the ARN, the nuclear regulatory authority of Argentina, in the area of radiation protection of patients, workers, and the public, including medical preparedness and response to radiological and nuclear emergencies.
The HPS Business/Members Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 9 July, at 5:30 pm. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Brief updates will be given on the meeting and the Society in general, after which members are given the opportunity to ask questions and provide input to the Board of Directors.
The Gala Dinner will occur on Tuesday evening, 9 July, from 7 to 9 pm in room Gatlin B in the Convention Center. Tickets are $100 each. Dress is business casual, and the dinner will offer attendees an opportunity to socialize in a relaxed atmosphere with your radiation protection colleagues from around the world. Chicken will be the main course but, of course, we are used to this at HPS meetings.
The IRPA General Assembly, being held on Wednesday, is where the official business of IRPA occurs. Based on the current paying membership of the IRPA Associate Society, delegates vote on key issues and topics including rule changes, new IRPA Executive Council members, and preference for upcoming IRPA International Congress meetings. The United States, i.e., HPS, has the largest delegation with 17, followed by Great Britian with 13. Only delegates are allowed to attend this meeting.
For more information, to view the program, and to register for the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting, visit the meeting website.