IRMM hosts conference entitled: Research in Nuclear Sciences: Impact on the Citizen

On 9 December 2010, a conference entitled Research in Nuclear Sciences: Impact on the Citizen, took place. It was co-organised by the Belgian Nuclear Society (BNS), the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK/CEN) and the Belgian Institute for Radio-elements. This international conference was hosted by the IRMM (Institute for Reference Materials and Measurement), which is part of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, in Geel (Belgium). The event, which was attended by over 90 participants, was also supported by the Belgian Presidency to the Council of the EU.

The conference was devoted to the impact upon citizens’ lives of research carried out in specific fields of nuclear science. During the morning session, distinguished speakers including the former European Commissioner for Research, Philippe Busquin, the Chairman of the Board of SCK/CEN, Professor Frank Deconinck and Prof. Thomas Fanghänel, Director of ITU, presented several aspects of the implications for citizens of research in the nuclear sciences. These and subsequent presentations focused on health aspects, as well as basic science in the fields of actinide research and neutron data measurements. The concluding remarks were given by Sabine Laruelle, Belgium's Minister in charge of Science Policy.

During the afternoon, participants were invited to take part in laboratory visits to both the IRMM and the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (in Mol).

More information can be obtained from the Belgian Nuclear Society at:
www.bnsorg.eu/

Contact: Didier Haas, BNS Chairman