International Conference on Environmental Radioactivity:
From Measurements and Assessments to Regulation

23-27 April 2007
Vienna, Austria

In cooperation with the
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR)
South Pacific Environmental Radioactivity Association (SPERA)
National Food Investigation Institute, Hungary (NFII)
Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK • CEN)

Participation Form (Form A): PDF, Word
Announcement and Call for Papers: PDF, Word

Conference proceedings:
Final Programme (PDF)
Opening Statement DDG-NA
Closing Address DDG-NS

Session Summaries
President’s Summary (PDF)
Session 1 (PDF)
Session 2 (PDF)
Session 3 (PDF)
Session 4 (PDF)
Session 5 (PDF)
Session 6 (PDF)


ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS


1. BACKGROUND

Developing and implementing a regulatory regime requires that information be collected and interpreted. This can involve a complex set of actions such as collection of samples, measurements carried out in the field and laboratory, data evaluation, and environmental modeling. It is important both that the information collected be appropriate for the needs of regulators, and that regulators understand the uses and limitations of the data they obtain.
Technical developments in recent years have expanded the options for information collection for environmental radioactivity studies, raising a number of questions for regulators and information providers. Which methods provide fit-for-purpose data at the most reasonable price? How can the users of the data assess its quality and its fitness for the required purpose? Which parts of the data collection process are the greatest contributors to the total uncertainty? Can we compare data collected using different methodologies, or do we need to recommend more standardized methods to improve comparability? If we wish to recommend a standardized method, on what basis do we decide on the method?
This conference is intended to bring together professionals in the field to discuss these issues. It is expected that presentations will cover a range of applications and case studies, wherever environmental radioactivity measurements are carried out for regulatory purposes. In particular, presentations which discuss or demonstrate approaches to the generic issues discussed above will be welcomed. It is intended that presentations from invited speakers, and round-table discussions, will lead to the formulation of specific conclusions on how the professional community should proceed.

2. OBJECTIVE

The objective of the conference is to foster information exchange between professionals working in the broad range of disciplines associated with environmental radioactivity from sampling design to regulation. The conference will provide a forum to review current methodologies, and to discuss future trends and developments, and evaluate their practical implications for compliance.
 
3. AUDIENCE

The conference is directed at a broad range of persons involved in environmental radioactivity assessment for both routine and accident situations. This includes those involved in monitoring, research, radiological surveys, environmental modeling, and development and implementation of regulation.
 
4. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

  • Opening session – welcoming addresses by the IAEA
  • Theme specific sessions – keynote addresses, contributed oral presentations and posters
  • Round-table discussions/discussion forum
  • Poster sessions

 
5. CONTRIBUTED PAPERS/POSTERS

It is expected that this conference will contribute to improved sampling, measurement, internal and external quality control, and assessment methodologies for the purposes of regulation. Consequently, papers should address approaches to the topics shown in the figure below.


Papers may also cover a range of applications and case studies, such as:
  • Naturally occurring radioactive materials – NORM (including radon) and man-made radionuclides;
  • Planned, existing and emergency situations;
  • Mining and milling operations; contaminated and rehabilitated sites; discharges from nuclear, industrial and civil installations; and commodities.


6. PARTICIPATION

All persons wishing to participate in the symposium are requested to register in advance online. In addition they must send a completed Participation Form (Form A) and if relevant, together with the Paper Submission Form (Form B) and the Grant Application Form (Form C) through the competent official authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs or national atomic energy authority) to the IAEA. A participant will be accepted only if the Participation Form is transmitted through the competent official authority of a Member state of the IAEA or by an organization invited to participate.
Details on the logistics of the conference will be sent to all designated participants approximately two to three months before the meeting. This information will also be posted on the conference web site.
 
7. SUBMISSION OF EXTENDED SYNOPSES

Persons wishing to present a paper or poster at the conference must submit an extended synopsis of maximum 800 words in electronic format directly to the IAEA email address: enrad2007@iaea.org. The synopsis should give enough information on the contents of the proposed paper to enable the Programme Committee to evaluate it. Introductory and general matters should not be included. The deadline for submission of the extended synopses is 1 November 2006.
In addition to electronic submission, authors must submit a copy of the synopsis and Participation Form A and Form B for Submission of a Paper to their appropriate government authority for transmission to the IAEA by 1 November 2006.
Authors are urged to make use of the Extended Synopsis Template in Word 2000 on the conference web page. The specifications and instructions for preparing the synopsis and how to use the synopsis template are given in the attached “Instructions on How to Prepare the Synopsis and how to submit it electronically”. Also attached to this announcement is a sample extended synopsis.
The synopsis will be considered only if the Participation Form A and Paper Submission Form B have been received by the IAEA from official government channels (see Section 12).
 
8. PAPERS AND CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

(a) Acceptance of papers
Authors will be informed whether their papers have been accepted for oral presentation or for presentation as a poster on the basis of the extended synopsis. At the same time they will receive guidelines for the preparation of papers/posters and will be informed of the deadlines for their submission, the assigned paper/poster number and the session of presentation. The accepted synopses will be reproduced in unedited form in the Book of Extended Synopses. The IAEA, however, reserves the right to refuse the presentation or publication of any paper that does not meet the expectations based on the information given in the extended synopsis.
A preliminary programme of the conference will be on the conference web site before the meeting.
The final programme and book of extended synopses will be distributed at registration.

(b) Publication of proceedings

It is expected that the conference proceedings will be published as a special issue of the journal Applied Radiation and Isotopes, following peer review of the submitted papers. Specifications for the layout and electronic format of the full manuscripts will be sent to all main authors of accepted papers and posters. The deadline for submission of full manuscripts is 1 June 2007.
 
9. EXPENDITURES/GRANTS

No registration fee is charged to participants.
As a general rule, the IAEA does not pay for participants´ travel and living expenses. However, limited funds are available to help meet the cost of attendance of selected specialists, mainly those from developing countries with low economic resources. Generally, not more than one travel grant may be awarded to any one country. To apply for a travel grant, please send the Grant Application Form C - typewritten or clearly printed - through your appropriate government authority (see Section 12), together with the Participation Form and, if relevant, the Form for Submission of a Paper, to reach the IAEA at the latest by 1 November 2006 . Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. The grants will be lump sums usually covering only part of the cost of attendance.
 
10. EXHIBITION

A limited amount of space will be available for commercial vendors’ displays/exhibits during the conference. Interested parties should contact the Scientific Secretariat (see Section 15).
 
11. WORKING LANGUAGE

The working language of the meeting will be English. All communications, synopses, and papers must therefore be sent to the IAEA in English.
 
12. CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION

The Participation Form ( Form A), the Form for Submission of a Paper ( Form B) and, if applicable, the Grant Application Form ( Form C) must be sent through one of the competent official authorities (Ministry of Foreign Affairs or national atomic energy authority) or an organization invited to participate for subsequent transmission to the IAEA. Communications concerning technical matters should be sent to the Scientific Secretariat, and communications on administrative/logistical matters to the Conference Organizer (see Section 15).

13. ACCOMMODATION

Detailed information on accommodation and other relevant information will be available on the conference web site as soon as possible but in any case about two to three months before the meeting.

http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Meetings/Announcements.asp?ConfID=145
 
14. VISA

If you need a visa (‘Schengen visa’) to enter Austria, please submit the necessary applications to the nearest diplomatic or consular representative of Austria as early as possible (please note that this procedure may take up to three weeks).
 
15. WEB SITE AND EMAIL ADDRESS:

Please visit the IAEA conference web site regularly for any new information regarding this conference under:

http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Meetings/Announcements.asp?ConfID=145


The email address for paper submission is enrad2007@iaea.org

16.CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT

Scientific Secretariat of the Conference:
Mr. P. Martin
Agency’s Laboratories, Seibersdorf and Headquarters
International Atomic Energy Agency
P.O. Box 100, Wagramer Strasse 5
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Email: P.Martin@iaea.org
Telephone No.: (+43 1) 2600 28207
Telefax No.: (+43 1) 2600 28222
Email Address for Paper submission: enrad2007@iaea.org
Administration and organization:
Ms. Julie Zellinger
Division of Conference and Document Services,
Conference Services Section
IAEA-CN-145
International Atomic Energy Agency
P.O. Box 100, Wagramer Strasse 5
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Telephone No.: (+43 1) 2600 21303
Telefax No.: (+43 1) 2600 7
E-mail: J.Zellinger@iaea.org
.