Nov 08, 20188 November 2018, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: National and international experts will convene to discuss radiation protection issues related to nuclear industry, environment, medicine and radiological accidents and hammer out recommendation for better protection of the people at large.
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and the International Commission for Radiological Protection (ICRP) co-organized the first Middle East event titled “Radiation Protection Week” from 8 through 15 November 2018 at Khalifa University for Science and Technology (KU).
Over 150 national and international participants representing entities specialized in radiation protection will take part in the event, including 24 expert ICRP Members from 14 countries such as USA, Canada, Japan and France and others.
The six-day event will allocate each day to discuss specific themes such as day three will address “radiological protection in the nuclear industry”, while day four will have a detailed discussion on “radiological protection in medicine,” where experts will discuss current issues in medical imaging and patients’ dose optimization.
It will also witness the launch of the FANR’s first “Radiological Environmental Monitoring Programme Report”, which is the first of its kind to be published in the country, illustrating efforts of FANR in monitoring environmental radiation. The report provides independent measurements confirming levels of radiation in the environment of the UAE prior to the operation of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. The report enhances UAE national infrastructure in the area of radiological environmental monitoring.
“We are delighted to host the first of its kind event in the Middle East with our strategic partner the International Commission for Radiological Protection. The Radiation Protection Week will act as a platform to develop international radiological protection infrastructure not only in the UAE, but regionally and internationally. It will also help strengthen cooperation in this sector to ensure the protection of the people and the environment alike,” said Christer Viktorsson, Director-General of the UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR).
“ICRP is privileged to be a significant part of the first Radiation Protection week ever to be held in the Gulf region, organised in Abu Dhabi by the United Arab Emirates Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). I, the Chairs of ICRP Committees 2 (Doses), 3 (Medicine) and 4 (Application), and many other members of Committees 3 and 4 look forward to participating actively. With an extensive, world-class programme, an impressive list of presenters, and a social programme you will not find anywhere else, this event is essential for everyone in the Gulf region interested in radiological protection, and a unique and highly valuable learning and networking experience for radiological protection professionals from around the world,” said Christopher Clement, Scientific Secretary of International Commission for Radiological Protection (ICRP).
FANR, since its establishment, in 2009, has developed and issued regulations and guides to ensure the protection of the public and the environment from radiation risks as per the law, and to support industry to meet those requirements. FANR continuously monitors the radioactivity levels in the UAE environment through its environmental laboratory at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, and through its radioactivity monitoring stations positioned in various locations across the UAE.
FANR in late 2017 signed a second collaboration agreement with the ICRP which covers the period 2018-2020, and encompasses different activities in the UAE, such as scientific conferences, the organization of the first “Radiation Protection Week”, as well as support to research and other development activities. ICRP is an international non-governmental organization, with a mission to provide recommendations and authoritative guidance on radiation protection.