FUTURAE: A future for radioecology in Europe

About FUTURAE

European and national funding for radioecology was substantial after the Chernobyl accident, but has since declined. In the last decade, the number of radioecologists has been steadily reducing with significant gaps occurring in many countries in the expertise needed to cover the many different facets of radioecology.

Recent reports have identified the need to ensure that the discipline is maintained across Europe and beyond. Some Member States may not be able adequately to respond to future large scale accidents or to address knowledge gaps in respect to new regulatory requirements. Issues within radiation protection are cross-boundary and we may need to bring together the remaining European radioecological expertise to make best use of experience and resources, and ensure an appropriate future for radioecology in Europe.

The primary objective of this Coordination Action (CA) is to evaluate the feasibility of network(s) to maintain and enhance competence and to enhance sustainable collaboration in the field of assessment and management of the impact of radionuclides on man and the environment.

To reach this objective, the present CA proposes a number of tasks that include:

1. Evaluation of the current situation of research in radioecology in Europe and beyond (scientific programmes, human resources, infrastructures, funding)
2. Focused interaction with end-users representing national bodies, competent authorities, industry and scientists to assess the present and future needs in radioecology
3. Evaluation of the capacity to support future needs and identification and prioritisation of new challenges considering potential avenues for better collaboration in broader areas of environmental sciences

From these tasks, the output of the project will be an evaluation of the potential for establishing deeper and sustainable collaboration in radioecology possibly in the form of Network(s) of Excellence. The suitable scope, extent and structure of the network(s) will be explored.

Project objectives

The overall objective of the FUTURAE project is to evaluate the feasibility of network(s) of excellence to maintain and enhance competence in a resource efficient manner and to enhance sustainable collaboration in the field of assessment and management of the impact of radionuclides on man and the environment.

This project is hence under the umbrella of radioecology defined as a branch of environmental sciences devoted to a specific category of stressors i.e. natural and artificial radioactive substances.
This science includes key issues

1. common with other groups of pollutants, particularly metals (e.g., transport, fate, speciation, bioavailability, biological effects at various organisational levels);
2. specific to radionuclides (e.g., external irradiation pathway, radiation dosimetry, decay products).

The feasibility of networking will be critically evaluated in a final report that will integrate the results of reviews and analyses, and the outcomes from workshops where end-user representatives will have the opportunity to express their views.

Work packages

This approach will be implemented through the coordination of five work packages, in accordance with the specific WP objectives set out below:

• WP1 – Update and analyse information on the status of radioecological research in terms of funding, human and infrastructure resources and research programmes in Europe and all over the world; Integrate information on the future of individual research groups and institutes to clearly identify the research potential
• WP2 - Assess the present and future needs of end-users (authorities, industry, decision-makers, scientists, higher education, international organisations e.g. IAEA, ICRP), and the related requirements with respect to the assessment and management of the impact of radionuclides on man and the environment
• WP3 - Evaluate the radioecological capacity to support the future needs, give priority with regard to previously identified requirements and highlight new scientific challenges, considering potential avenues for better collaboration with broader areas of environmental sciences
• WP4 - Evaluate the need for, and feasibility of network(s) of excellence to maintain and enhance competence and expertise in Europe and propose a knowledge management structure at the European level; Assess how to maintain Europe’s acknowledged lead in the field of radioecology and how to promote dissemination of this European competence within new member states; make practical propositions for the implementation of network(s) of excellence
• WP5 - Provide general management and progress assessment in the project

Participant list

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Website: www.futurae.org

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