PNRI Receives Equipment and Training from USDOE, ANSTO
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The US Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (USDOE/NNSA) and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO) recently sponsored a training course on Open Source Search Methods for eleven Philippine participants from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute.
The objective of the training was to familiarize participants with the use and maintenance of a range of radiation detection equipment donated as part of the project on Regional Security of Radioactive Sources. Both the training and the equipment provided will be utilized in PNRI's efforts to search and secure orphan radioactive sources.
The mix of participants from the Institute's regulatory and nuclear services and training divisions consisted of Mr. Nelson Badinas, Mr. Jose Calaycay, Ms. Estrella Caseria, Mr. Giuseppe Filam Dean, Mr. Louie del Castillo, Mr. Abelardo Inovero, Mr. Jesus Perez, Ms. Kristine Ronallosa, Mr. Demetrio Salom, and Mr. Alfonso Singayan, with Mr. Teofilo Leonin, Jr. serving as the team's supervisor.
Eleven participants from Indonesia joined the Philippine delegates in the week-long training activity, as their government was likewise a recipient of donated radiation detection equipment under the regional project.
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Gets Boost with the Certification of PHP52
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The radionuclide monitoring station designated as PHP52 in Tanay, Rizal, recently merited formal certification from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) that is based in Vienna, Austria.
In a letter from the Director of the organization's International Monitoring System Division, the Philippines was informed that after a careful review by their Certification Group, the said monitoring facility was found to have met all technical requirements and is thus being granted formal certification.
The same letter expressed appreciation to the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute and the Scientific Solutions, Inc. (SSI), contractor for PHP52, who both worked closely in elevating the radionuclide station among the network of stations in the International Monitoring System.
The PHP52 is one of three monitoring stations situated in the Philippines that form part of the global verification regime established by the CTBTO to monitor compliance to the Treaty. The other two consist of auxiliary seismic stations in Davao and Tagaytay, operated by the Manila Observatory and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), respectively.
Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA) 2005 Workshop on Biofertilizer
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The Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA) 2005 Workshop on Biofertilizer commenced on 9 January, at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, with Science & Technology Secretary, Dr. Estrella F. Alabastro, keynoting the affair.
In her address, Secretary Alabastro expounded on the importance of biofertilizer and highlighted its contribution to the over-all agricultural program of the government.
Co-hosted the workshop is the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan with its representative Ms. Takiko Sano emphasized the significance of the application of nuclear technology in agriculture which has a large potential to contribute in the enhancement of the quality of life in the Asian region.
Dr. Tadashi Yokoyama, Project Leader of the Biofertilizer project in Japan, provided an overview of the Biofertilizer project, which showcases part of the cooperative efforts in the region at applying radiation and radioisotopes to benefit agriculture.
The Workshop features country presentations, special lectures, discussions on project evaluation and future plans, and a technical visit to the BIOTECH at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños and at a bio-N mixing plant in Capaz, Tarlac.
A total of eleven delegates from Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam flew in to attend the one-week Workshop, which is also participated in by four delegates coming from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute and BIOTECH, UPLB, and by observers from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management.
The FNCA Biofertilizer Project is being spearheaded locally by Mr. Richard Balog of the Agricultural Research Section, PNRI.
Regional Educational Course on Radiation Oncology to be held in Philippines
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Through the joint efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, the Philippine Radiation Oncology Society and the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, a Regional Training Course on Current Standards and Future Directions in Radiation Oncology will be held next week at the Manila Hotel.
The Course brings together 25 participants from ten Member States of the IAEA who are participating in the regional project, RAS/6/040, under which auspices the training activity is being held.
The end-in-view is to assist participating countries to strengthen their national radiotherapy infrastructure through the integration of educational and applied research activities into their respective national development objectives. Included in the topics to be covered are the importance of rationalizing scientific programs in the Member States; the role of quality assurance and quality control in radiotherapy; the need to promote public awareness and partnerships; and enhancing self-reliance through good management strategies and practices.
The list of distinguished lecturers come from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, USA; the National Institute of Radiological Sciences in Japan; the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada; the Duke University Medical School and the University of Florida, both in the USA. Dr. Teresa Sy Ortin of the Santo Tomas University Hospital also joins the list of faculty for the one-week training.
An exhibit will be set up for viewing during the event, for which Dr. Miriam Joy Calaguas of the St. Luke's Medical Center will serve as Course Director.
Dr. Calaguas is the National Project Coordinator for the pertinent regional project.
