SRP4 (02)

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The Society for Radiological Protection awards

Dr Penelope Allisy-Roberts, who is head of the Ionising Radiation Section at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, Paris, was awarded the Founders Prize both for her numerous contributions to professional societies and her involvement in teaching.

In addition to her committee work, Dr Allisy-Roberts' role in overseeing the production of a comprehensive set of notes on radiation protection for all persons working in medicine and dentistry has contributed greatly to the profession, and has been hailed as a major achievement. She is the 19th recipient of the prize since its inception in 1978.

Dr Allisy-Roberts commented:
"It was a totally unexpected honour for me to have been awarded the SRP Founders' Prize and I was delighted to be invited to the Annual Conference in Cardiff to receive it in person."

Dr John Stather was awarded the Honorary Fellowship of the SRP in recognition of his services to radiological protection and to the work of the Society. He is currently Deputy Director and Head of Division at the National Radiological Protection Board
where he covers work on both ionising and non-ionising radiations.  Over the years, Dr Stather has contributed significantly to the work of SRP, as a member of the Scientific Programme Committee and in the organisation of a number of the Society's meetings.

Dr Stather has also played a significant role on the international scene. He has acted as a consultant and invited expert to European, United Nations and US Groups and Committees in the fields of radio-nuclide bio-kinetics and toxicity and their behaviour in the environment and on biological effects of ionising radiations.  A milestone in his career was the need to determine whether discharges from the Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing plant could have caused the childhood leukaemia cluster identified at Seascale
He joins just 15 other Honorary Fellows

"The SRP is delighted to honour these two outstanding scientists", said the Society's President, Mike Marshall, "They have made considerable contributions to radiological protection and to the Society."
Ends.

Notes for editors
1. Penelope Allisy-Roberts graduated from the University of Birmingham with a BSc in Physics, an MSc in Radiobiology and a PhD in Radiological Physics. She was made a Fellow of Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) in 1988 and the Royal College of Radiologists made her an Honorary Member. SRP welcomed her as a Member in 1984. She was elected to Fellowship of the Institute of Physics in 2000. In 1994, Dr Allisy-Roberts moved to Paris to a post in the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). Currently head of the Ionising Radiations Section, her work concerns comparisons between the national metrology institutes of radiation dosimetry and radioactive sources for radiotherapy and radiation protection. Whilst working at Birmingham University and Southampton University Hospitals, she was closely involved with undergraduate and postgraduate students, and joined the faculty for Advanced Courses in Radiological Protection of the National Radiological Protection Board. Dr Allisy-Roberts has been an active member of many boards and committees during her career, including the Editorial Board of the Journal of Radiological Protection, and being a founder member of the SRP International Committee. In particular, she was chairman of a small Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) working group, which produced the "Medical and Dental Guidance Notes". This guidance is recognised unconditionally as a massive effort and of significant importance to the medical physics community.

2. John Stather graduated from Reading University in 1963 with a degree in Biological Sciences and an Honours degree in Botany. He went on to obtain a Masters degree in Radiobiology and then a PhD at the University of Birmingham. In 1968 he joined the Medical Research Council's Radiological Protection Service (RPS) and transferred to the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) when it was formed in 1971. He was appointed its Deputy Director in 1997 and is responsible for work in four departments of the organisation. His scientific research has mainly encompassed radiological protection problems associated with the behaviour of radionuclides in the body as well as assessments of their health effects resulting from intakes following their release into the natural and working environment. He is presently involved in organising and international conference on this topic in Oxford, which will have about 200 participants from around 30 counties. He has been involved in the work of many international committees. He is vice-chairman of Committee 2 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and chair of an ICRP Task Group on internal dosimetry that has recently issued a report giving estimates of radiation exposure of the foetus and new-born child following intakes of radionuclides by the mother during pregnancy. He has also contributed to reports on health effects of ionising radiation published by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiations. In recent year he has become involved in work related to health effects resulting from exposures to ultraviolet radiation and concerns about exposures to electromagnetic fields from power lines and mobile phones.
 
3. The Founders Prize has been awarded 19 times since its inception in 1978, to honour meritorious workers in radiological protection who are engaged in research, industry, or in other activities such as teaching and administration.
 
4. Honorary Fellowships are awarded annually to people who have rendered distinguished service to radiological protection or to the Society for Radiological Protection. There are currently 16 Honorary Fellows.

5. For more information, please contact Tessa Berry, Tel +44 (0) 1364 644487, Fax +44 (0) 1364  644492, E-mail admin@srp-uk.org. The SRP administrative office address is PO Box 117, Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0WA.

6. The Society for Radiological Protection was founded in 1963. The Society now has nearly 2000 members, including International members, and is the leading Scientific Society in the UK for all who are professionally concerned with safety aspects of uses of ionising and non-ionising radiation in education, central and local government, industry, medicine and research.

The Society has the following objectives:

• to promote and advance the science of radiological protection and allied fields;
• to promote, advance and disseminate to the public advantage, knowledge of radiological protection and allied fields;
• to encourage, support, promote and advance education and learning in radiological protection and allied fields;
• to promote and encourage high scientific, educational, regulatory and professional standards in radiological protection and allied fields.

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