NSERC/UNENE IRC in Health Physics and Environmental Safety

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Health physics and environmental safety are cornerstone fields of study for all applications of ionizingradiation in industry, research and education and most importantly in the exploitation of nuclear energy.Government and public concern over the safe operation of nuclear power plants is at a heightened statefollowing the events at Fukushima in March, 2011 and at the same time there is a general awareness of thebeneficial use of ionizing radiation in industry, natural resource development and medicine. Health physics isthe science that addresses the safe use of radiation and protection of humans and the environment from theharmful effects of exposure. The overall objectives of this Industrial Research Chair program are to train thenext generation of nuclear scientists and engineers in health physics by providing them with a unique andindustry relevant educational experience and to improve radiation protection science for nuclear energyworkers and for the protection of the environment through innovative research. The aim of this research is todevelop novel radiation measuring instruments that can provide instantaneous information on the radiationconditions within a power plant, nuclear laboratory or the environment and where necessary to couple thesedevices with robotic tools so that remote monitoring, hazard visualization and work-planning can be carried toensure that radiation hazards are kept as low as possible and well within regulatory limits with the least loss ofefficiency. The research program is also designed to advance our basic understanding of the health risksincurred by nuclear energy workers, the public and non-human species due to low-level radiation exposure andto reduce scientific uncertainties for this topical and controversial issue.