On behalf of
the Executive Committee, it is my
honor to invite you to attend the
19th annual meeting of the Council
on Ionizing Radiation Measurements
and Standards (CIRMS) to be held October
18-20, 2010 at the National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST)
in Gaithersburg, MD. [see www.nist.gov
for directions.] The meeting’s theme
is “Ionizing Radiation Sources: Uses,
Availability, and Options.” In light
of recent developments associated
with the availability, transport,
and use of radioisotopes, the CIRMS
Executive Committee has developed
a program to address some of the critical
aspects associated with various sources
of radiation, both machine and isotope
derived. We will address the availability,
transport, and use of radioisotopes,
and the potential disruptions that
can occur should these isotopes no
longer be available, as well as options
for the use of machine sources to
replace isotopes such that a fundamental
understanding can be gained by those
unfamiliar with the topic. The dynamic
and diverse aspects of the importance
of measurements and standards in this
area will be addressed by internationally-recognized
experts from academia, industry, and
government on radiation protection,
industrial applications and radiation
effects, medical applications, homeland
security, and other related areas.
I invite you to visit this website
for updates on the evolving program.
CIRMS is an organization made up of
leaders from the academic, government,
and industrial sectors who are dedicated
to identifying the needs for new measurement
technologies and the development of
new standards in the field of ionizing
radiation. This meeting provides a
unique and excellent opportunity to
the entire ionizing radiation user
community to meet and discuss developments
and new trends related to the fundamental
aspects associated with various radiation
sources. In addition to the general
plenary sessions, there will be several
working group sessions devoted to
aspects of radiation sources in radiation
therapy (medical), industrial applications,
radiation protection, and homeland
security. In every working group session,
the needs for measurement standards
in these areas will be explored by
discussing the current “CIRMS Needs
Report,” modifying the Needs as necessary.
The final conclusions from these sessions
will be presented in a joint plenary
session at the end of the meeting.
In addition, I encourage you to submit
an abstract of work to be presented
during one of the working group sessions,
or as a poster.
Since its beginning, CIRMS has strongly
encouraged and supported the participation
of students in presenting their research,
in the working groups or as posters,
at the annual meetings. Additionally,
CIRMS proudly continues its tradition
of support through the Student Travel
Grant program awards, through which
up to four students will be reimbursed
for their expenses to attend the meeting
and make an oral presentation at the
plenary session. As always, CIRMS
2010 sponsors are invited to present
posters that enable the attendees
to better learn about the wide variety
of organizations and corporations
that support CIRMS; limited space
for table top displays will also be
available.
I look forward to seeing all of you
at the 19th annual CIRMS meeting,
and your active participation in the
exciting and dynamic discussions to
be held on the evolving visions of
measurements and standards in the
radiation arena.
Kim M.
Morehouse, CIRMS President
Meeting
Focus
The 19th Annual Meeting of the Council
on Ionizing Radiation Measurements
and Standards will focus on the uses,
availability and options for ionizing
radiation sources. For the past nineteen
years, CIRMS has played an important
role in serving as a public forum
for discussion of radiation measurements
and standards issues for industry,
academia, and government. The technical
program this year will consist of
oral and poster presentations and
three parallel working groups that
address measurement and standards
needs for the following topics:
• Medical Applications
[diagnostic and therapeutic radiology,
nuclear medicine]
• Radiation Protection
[radiochemistry, waste analysis, personnel
dosimetry, electronic dosimeters,
bioassay and internal dosimetry environmental
dosimetry]
• Industrial Applications
and Materials Effects [dosimetry for
radiation processing, radiobiology,
safety at radiation facilities, food
irradiation]
As issues in homeland
security, and for first responders,
can be found in each field – medicine,
protection, and industry – these will
be addressed in each workshop as appropriate.
Plenary
Sessions
The plenary sessions of this year’s
meeting will include talks on the
use, availability and options for
ionizing radiation sources, including
both radioisotope and machine derived.
Presentation topics will include radiation
sources used in medical applications,
source availability and transport,
sterilization applications, alternative
methods of isotope production, and
reactor issues. Working group sessions
will provide updates on topics related
to this year’s general topic, and
on other on-going efforts in the community.
Working
Groups
As is traditional with the CIRMS Annual
Meeting, afternoons will be devoted
to working group sessions in medical
applications, radiological protection/homeland
security, and industrial applications
and materials effects. Anyone wishing
to make an oral presentation at a
working group , or present a poster,
is asked to submit an abstract to
Katy Nardi by 2 July 2010. E-mail:
knardi@cirms.org.
Student
Awards
As in previous years, there will be
a competition for student grants of
up to $1,000 to defray the expenses
for at most four students to attend
the 19th annual CIRMS meeting. This
year’s CIRMS annual meeting will focus
on Radiation Source Options, and Awardees
are expected to present a poster paper
and deliver a brief oral presentation
on their research efforts. The deadline
for application submittal is Friday,
September 10; for further information,
click on: “Student Travel Grant Information
& Application.”
Poster
Sessions
Two locations will be allocated to
poster viewing and discussion. Activities
of CIRMS’ sponsoring organizations
will be presented in the Employees’
Lounge during all coffee breaks. Proffered
posters on a variety of technical
topics, including the research activities
of the winners of the Student Travel
Grants, will be presented along the
Hall of Flags, just outside the primary
meeting venue.
Registration
The registration fee of $330 includes
conference materials, coffee breaks,
lunches, and a dinner. Due to increased
security, no on-site registrations
will be accepted and all attendees
must be pre-registered. The site for
electronics registration will be announced
soon.
Accommodations
A block of rooms has been reserved
at the Hilton Washington, DC North/Gaithersburg,
(301) 977-8900, at a special rate
of $139/night, single or double, plus
13% tax. This rate includes breakfast.
Ask for the NIST/CIRMS rate when making
your reservations. Reservations must
be received by October 8, 2010.
Technical
Information
Lisa Karam
NIST
100 Bureau Dr. Stop 8460
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8460
Phone: (301) 975-5561
Fax: (301) 869-7682
email: lisa.karam@nist.gov
Registration
Information
Teresa Vicente
NIST
100 Bureau Dr., Stop 1071
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1071
Phone: (301) 975-3883
Fax: (301) 948-2067
email: teresa.vicente@nist.gov
________________________________________________________
CIRMS is a not-for-profit
organization made up of individuals,
organizations and corporations from
national and international government,
academic and private industry sectors
having an interest in identifying
strategic needs and directions for
ionizing radiation measurements and
standards.
CIRMS membership
is composed of leaders and experts
from the areas of medical radiation,
occupational and environmental radiation
protection, homeland security and
materials effects/industrial processes
based on radiation who have an interest
in and wish to influence the direction
of measurement programs, technologies
and standards.
Toward these ends,
we gather, evaluate and disseminate
information about measurement needs
facing the four application disciplines
with the aim to facilitate funding
and the ultimate satisfaction of those
needs. Each of these endeavors is
enhanced by the publication of the
"National Needs in Ionizing Radiation
Measurements and Standards" report,
which is updated every three years.
CIRMS holds an annual
meeting each fall to give its members
the opportunity to hear thorough topical
presentations but more importantly,
engage in dialogs that other professional
meetings are unable to provide. Nearly
half of the annual meeting is devoted
to working group sessions where the
informal environment permits the open
exchange of ideas. Another important
aspect of CIRMS revolves around developing
young, new researchers. Each year,
CIRMS grants several awards to students
to cover the cost to attend the annual
meeting and present their research
during a plenary session.
