Applications for the fifth session of the International Radiological Protection School (IRPS) are now closed.

The 2023 edition of the IRPS is scheduled to take place in person in Stockholm, Sweden from 14-18 August 2023, in co-operation with the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) and the Centre for Radiation Protection Research (CRPR) of Stockholm University.

The programme of the IRPS 2023, currently being finalised, will be designed to provide participants with a thorough understanding of the international radiological protection system, how it is intended to be interpreted for application in diverse and emerging circumstances and how it is evolving based on new scientific knowledge and lessons learnt. The school will be driven by the same spirit of knowledge transfer as the previous editions: preparing tomorrow's leading experts in radiological protection by learning from today's experts. Comprehensive lectures and illustrative interactive case studies will be delivered by renowned experts in the multidisciplinary area of radiological protection. To get an overall impression of the IRPS structure and programme, the final programme of the previous edition can be downloaded from this page. Table 1 provides a draft schedule for the IRPS 2023. More information and the final programme will be sent to admitted participants in due course.

Table 1: Indicative schedule of the IRPS 2023. All times are indicative and provided in CEST. A number of extracurricular activities are foreseen for some evenings after the lectures end, depending on the possibilities and circumstances at the time of the school. Details will be provided to admitted participants in due course.

The school will take place over 5 days. Lectures will generally last 30 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A with the participants. 

All participants are strongly encouraged to participate in person in Stockholm, as only this will allow for the user experience as it is intended. Recognising that participants might face different challenges to travel, an online participation will be accepted, if necessary. However, this will not be the main focus of the format of the school and might result in reduced overall quality of the learning experience. Table 2 outlines the expected difference in online and in-person participation. The main disruption to be expected for online participants is the limited interactivity with other participants and the faculty, as well as the CEST-based programme times. Participants are asked to indicate their preference regarding in-person or online participation in their application.

Table 2: Expected differences between online and in-person participation.

All participants will have access to an online platform with diverse learning material to prepare prior to the school (see Table 2). This platform will be opened to admitted participants around mid-July. In-person participants will work in groups on case studies and will be debriefed collectively on the last day of the school. Participants will further be invited to share a topic of interest, e.g. a professional experience, question, or other in a form of a short abstract. A selection of participants' abstracts will be presented by the respective participants during a mini workshop on practical experience and challenges in applying the RP system.

Approaching its fifth anniversary, the IRPS has already provided a unique educational opportunity to more than 150 young or mid-career professionals and graduate students from around the world in four editions.

The deadline for applications is 15 April 2023. A tuition fee of €750 will be required to attend the IRPS which is payable after admission.

Read more about the NEA's International Radiological Protection School (IRPS).