New European Collaborative Efforts in Radioecology

1. European Radioecology ALLIANCE New European Collaborative Efforts in Radioecology Clare Bradshaw (Dept of Systems Ecology, Stockholm Univ) Leif Moberg (Strålsäkerhetsmyndigheten, SSM)

2. Reviews of radioecology programmes in Europe indicated problems of: • a steadily decreased funding base • fragmentation - with poor coordination among national strategies and programmes • poor recruitment of young scientists • retirement of key personnel, and closing of important infrastructures • meeting society’s future radiological needs

3. European Radioecology ALLIANCE European Radioecology Alliance The Director Generals of EIGHTorganizations recognized these problems and signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2009

4. European Radioecology ALLIANCE Memorandum of Understanding • jointly states their intention to bring together, with an aspiration of sustainability, part of their respective R&D programmes into an integrated trans-national programme • maintain and enhanceradioecological competences and experimental infrastructures in Europe • address scientific and educational challenges relative to the impact of radioactive substances on humans and the environment • maintain radioecology such that it covers the needs of regulators, society and industry in Europe

5. European Radioecology ALLIANCE The ALLIANCE plans to become international, and many organizations have expressed interest in joining

6. In April 2010, 7 ALLIANCE members + Stockholm University + University of Life Sciences in Norway submitted a proposal to the EC to establish a NETWORK of EXCELLENCEin Radioecology Funded for 4.5 years Started 1 Feb 2011

7. Overall aims of STAR • To hand over to (or even turn into) the Alliance after 4.5 y • To produce a Strategic Research Agenda for the next 15-20 years • To integrate research, infrastructure, knowledge dissemination, and training in radioecology between the partners

8. Key Mechanisms of Radionuclide Transfer • Environmental Effects • Decision Support Tools Strategic Research Agenda Challenges in Radioecology require a strategic, international, multi-disciplinary plan that is comprehensive and well-coordinated • SRA builds on FUTURAE ; IUR; ICRP; OECD_NEA Surveyed stakeholder needs, educational opportunities, inventoried infrastructure, polled radioecologists • Three Research Themes • Infrastructure • Education, Training and Knowledge Management Each chapter within the SRA will define long term goals, and develop a “road map” of how to achieve them

9. STAR is developed around seven Work Packages WP1 : Network Coordination (IRSN) GOAL: to establish the administrative and financial plan for coordinating the Network of Excellence… WP2 : Integration and Infrastructure (STUK) GOAL: to develop a strategy for integration of research, infrastructure, knowledge dissemination, and training in radioecology… …to further develop the Strategic Research Agenda and associated road map …to establish Observatories for Radiological Research

10. STAR’s seven work packages are related to the central theme of Human and Environmental Risk Assessments

11. STAR is developed around seven Work Packages WP3 : Integrated Human and Non-human Radiation Protection (NRPA) GOALS: • develop, test and optimise a conceptual model for integrated human and wildlife assessment. • use process-oriented numerical modelling for integrated human and wildlife assessments. • review and produce recommendations on improving wildlife dosimetry. • critically compare the current system of human radiation protection with the developing system of protection for non-humans

12. STAR is developed around seven Work Packages WP4 : Radiation Protection in a Mixed Contaminant Context (SCK) GOALS: • review methods and tools developed in ecotoxicology for assessing mixed contaminant exposures, and evaluate their applicability to radioecological research and assessments • test selected ecotoxicological method for radionuclide bioavailability and exposure assessment under mixed contaminant conditions • apply approaches developed in ecotoxicology to assess the effects of mixed contaminant conditions Hg Cr

13. STAR is developed around seven Work Packages WP5 : Ecologically Relevant Low Dose Effects (IRSN) GOALS: • Identify how life history characteristics influence the propagation of radiological effects from individuals to populations • Test the ability of “omics” tools, and the “Dynamic Energy Budget” concept to enhance: a) understanding of how radiosensitivity at the molecular and individual levels link to impacts on individuals and populations b) understanding of how dose characteristics (e.g., radiation type, targeted organs) influence the biological efficiency of radiological damage, by identifying the metabolic pathways that produce trait disturbances.

14. STAR is developed around seven Work Packages WP6 : Mobility, Training and Education (UMB) GOALS: • strengthen and secure a sustainable integrated European training and education platform in radioecology that will attract top-level graduates, • maintain a relevant workforce that is in a position to meet future economic and societal needs within the nuclear sciences, • enhance the mobility of teachers and STAR scientists as a means to secure competence building

15. STAR is developed around seven Work Packages WP7 : Knowledge and Data Dissemination (NERC) GOALS: • establish and maintain a webportal (the Radioecology Exchange) - an accessible long-term radioecological knowledge management system • develop sustainable public access to on-line data catalogues, databases, grey literature, e-learning packages, training materials and method descriptions • establish interactive Web 2.0-based communication to reach a wide audience, including the public • ensure open access to key radioecological information

17. The Alliance will expand to include many new members with similar goals for radioecology The mechanism and criteria are not yet decided. Each member will contribute to the Alliance from their own pool of resources (funds, laboratories, personnel, etc).  Open call for one new partner (will need part funding and skills not already present in the group) Limited subcontracting for expert tasks Associated members? Involvement in open workshops, meetings, training courses PhD Research School Input to Strategic Research Agenda (via IUR?) Carry out research at the ‘Observatories’ European Radioecology ALLIANCE Ways to get involved

20. STAR STAR Kick-off 18 month 36 month 54 month 1- Stepwise Phased 2- Consolidation 3- Transition to permanent entity Survey ongoing radioecological projects at the international level Description of infrastructures, analytical techniques, databases, samples banks Share skills and knowledge Common approval of good practices and procedures Common plan for infrastutructure develoment Common plan for training Common administrative solutions Merging the functions of STAR with those of the ALLIANCE Extend the road map to sustanaibility of research in Europe to international radioecological research Strategy for Allied Radioecology JPA - RTD activities, Education & Training, Knowledge Exchange & Dissemination Updated Strategic Research Agenda From the MoU, preparation of the management governance and structure of the ALLIANCE Updating the Strategy Research Agenda Progressive establishment of a permanent legal structure ready to welcome new memberships at the international scale Memorandum of Understanding Legal Entity created increasing integration

21. STAR STAR Strategy for Allied Radioecology

22. STAR STAR Strategy for Allied Radioecology

23. STAR STAR Strategy for Allied Radioecology

24. STAR STAR Strategy for Allied Radioecology

25. STAR STAR Strategy for Allied Radioecology