EU-STRA-Strålevern

COMET aimed to strengthen the pan-European research initiative on the impact of radiation on man and the environment. The project built on and complimented the foundations laid by the European Radioecology Alliance (ALLIANCE), the recently completed FP7 STAR project and collaborated with the European platforms on nuclear/radiological emergency response and recovery (NERIS) and low dose radiation risk (MELODI), and relevant training networks, as well as the EC joint Programming actions OPERRA and CONCERT on radiation protection. In addition to WP1 (management) the NRPA participated in the following task: WP2 - Joint Programming and Implementation, Expanding the ALLIANCE WP2 aimed to strengthen the pan-European research initiative on the impact of radiation on environment and man. The NRPA contributed to the joint setting of research priorities with MELODI and NERIS, as input to an open call in collaboration with the OPERRA project. Together with the ALLIANCE, the NRPA contributed to long-term roadmaps for several fields of radioecological research. Furthermore, multiple representatives from COMET and the ALLIANCE contributed to and participated in the first common meeting for all the radiation protection research platforms; Radiation Protection Week in Oxford on September 19th - 23rd, 2016. WP3 - Improving and validating radioecological models for risk assessment and for emergency and post-accident situations. An Initial Research Activity addressed the priority needs highlighted by the SRA: Marine modelling, forest modelling, human food chain modelling, naturally occuring radioactive material (NORM) modelling, particle behaviour, and ICRP reference sites. Furthermore, the projects FRAME and RATE investigated the impact of recent releases from the Fukushima Nuclear accident on the marine environment and radioactive particle transformation processes, respectively. The NRPA lead the work in WP3 and actively contributed to the IRA working groups on marine and human food chain modelling, as well as ICRP Reference sites. WP5 - Knowledge exchange This WP aimed to enhance and maintain European capacity and skills in radioecology by establishing a dynamic interaction promoting effective collaboration between researchers, tool developers, regulators and industry. An interactive website for COMET has been established including supporting materials for the user community providing informed and regular updates of developments. Furthermore, COMET organised a radioecology training course, including a field visit to the Chernobyl exclusion zone, in Kiev, Ukraine on September 5th - 9th, 2016, and a young researcher from NRPA participated in this course. The NRPA also contributed to the organisation of a workshop on "Fit for Purpose Modelling" in Seville in June 2016. The final project meeting took place in Brugge, Belgium on April 24th - 27th, 2017, bringing together the Whole Project consortium, as well as representatives from MELODI, NERIS, CONCERT and the EC.

COMET will strengthen the pan-European research initiative on the impact of radiation on man and the environment by facilitating the integration of radioecological research. COMET will build upon the foundations laid by the European Radioecology Alliance (ALLIANCE) and the on-going FP7 STAR Network of Excellence in radioecology. By collaborating with the European platforms on nuclear and radiological emergency response(NERIS) and low dose risk research (MELODI), COMET will significantly aid preparation fo r the implementation of the Horizon 2020 umbrella structure for Radiation Protection. In close association with STAR and the ALLIANCE, COMET will take forward the development of a Strategic Research Agenda as the basis for developing innovative mechanisms for joint programming and implementation (JPI) of radioecological research. To facilitate and foster future integration under a common federating structure, research activities developed within COMET will be targeted at radioecological research needs tha t will help achieve priorities of the NERIS and MELODI platforms. These research activities will be initiated in collaboration with researchers from countries where major nuclear accidents have occurred. Flexible funds, unallocated to specific tasks at pr oject initiation, have been included within the COMET budget to facilitate RTD activities identified through the JPI mechanisms developed that are of joint interest to the ALLIANCE, NERIS and MELODI. It will also strengthen the bridge with the non-radiati on community. Furthermore, COMET will develop strong mechanisms for knowledge exchange, dissemination and training to enhance and maintain European capacity, competence and skills in radioecology. The COMET consortium has 13 partners, expanding from the a nisations within the FP7 STAR project. In particular, COMET partners from countries which have experienced major nuclear accidents (i.e. Ukraine and Japan) and/or who hold Observatory sites.