"Our man overseas"
Virtual participation of US-based assistant professor in Austrian standardisation
Colorado State University, located in the central part of the United States of America in the midst of great national parks, thinks innovative and international.
Foreign experts have been recruited who — in line with the university’s official, explicit policy — are to dedicate themselves to standardisation within the framework of their work; and, if these activities are performed in their home countries, this is not a problem. Quite the opposite.
From autumn 2010 on, an Austrian living in the US will take part as a corresponding member in a technical committee of the Austrian Standards Institute.
We learned more about how that can work in practice directly from Alexander Brandl, PhD, who has been active in TC 088 "Protection against radiation" and will start to teach at Colorado State University in autumn 2010.
Before his departure, he spoke with CONNEX on what has happened so far and about his plans for the near future. We will report on his experiences and findings after his first "semester abroad".
CONNEX: Mr. Brandl, you have already lived in the US for several years as you studied physics and mathematics at the University of New Mexico from which you graduated with honours in 1996. What were the next steps?
A. Brandl: I have specialised in radiation protection and engaged in diverse education and training courses on this topic, such as special computer simulation programs on the mathematical modelling of radiation fields or radioactive substances and quality assurance in accreditation. Nine years ago, I started to work as a researcher at ARC Seibersdorf research. Relatively soon, I joined in standardisation activities which mainly focused on the personal monitoring of internal radioactive contamination. In 2004, I became radiation safety officer of Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf and quality manager.
- Dr. Alexander Brandl
CONNEX: Which role does radiation protection play in Austria? After all, the Zwentendorf nuclear power plant that was the only one ever constructed in Austria was never taken into operation.
A. Brandl: Since 1960, there has been a research reactor at Seibersdorf. Although it was shut down in 1999, there is still plenty of radioactive waste. Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf was specifically set up as the only Austrian institution for the management of nuclear and radioactive waste and takes care of removing, collecting, conditioning and storing contaminated substances. Hospitals, industry and research generate almost 20 tonnes of radioactive waste annually. This waste is processed in Seibersdorf — for example, by incineration, pressing or casting in concrete. Safety analyses are also prepared, for example on how storage sites can be best established and which environmental factors could result in damage.
CONNEX: Why is an American university interested in Austrian know-how?
A. Brandl: Just like Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf, the Austrian Radiation Protection Associations, whose secretary I have been since 2005, has a very good reputation internationally. For Colorado State University, physics and radiation protection are priority themes since it developed from the College for Agriculture and Mining. In the region, there are uranium mines that were abandoned in the 1970s as they were not profitable any more. Uranium is very heavy and has a high density. In addition to military applications, it is used, for example, as a shielding material in industry and medicine or as a contrast medium for electron microscopes.
CONNEX: In which committees have you been active and will continue to participate via web conferencing and "My Committee", the online tool for standardisation?
A. Brandl: I am active in working group 17 "Incorporation monitoring" of TC 088 "Protection against radiation". It focuses on methods for calculating how radioactive substances distribute in the human body after inhalation, ingestion or injection. Important standards prepared in 2007 and 2008 are the three-part ÖNORM S 5220 "Personal monitoring of internal radioactive contamination" and the two-part ÖNORM S 5223 "Estimation of the dose due to work activities involving materials containing naturally occurring radionuclides".
In parallel, I was also able to participate in an ISO working group on internal dosimetry. That working group implemented three standardisation projects in the past years. The draft of the main standard in that series, ISO 27048, is currently in the ballot phase and the other two will follow soon.
Dr Brandl was interviewed by Regina Slameczka, MAS
