Official Newsletter of the
State of Texas Chapter of the Health Physics Society
State of Texas Chapter of the Health Physics Society
In this issue . . .
• Fall Conference and Affiliates' Fair, Dallas, September 23, 2019 (PDF)
• Recap of the Student Presentations and Chapter Meeting, April 5–6,2019
• Science and Engineering Fair of Houston, February 23, 2019
• STC Participated in the Scouts of America STEM Conference, April 2019
• STC-HPS Breakfast meeting in Orlando, Florida, July 9, 2019 (PDF)
• Photos from the April 2019 Student Presentations & Annual Business Meeting
• Minutes of the STC Executive Council Meeting
Houston, TX, April 2019 (PDF)
Teleconference, May 2019 (PDF)
• Fall Conference and Affiliates' Fair, Dallas, September 23, 2019 (PDF)
• Recap of the Student Presentations and Chapter Meeting, April 5–6,2019
• Science and Engineering Fair of Houston, February 23, 2019
• STC Participated in the Scouts of America STEM Conference, April 2019
• STC-HPS Breakfast meeting in Orlando, Florida, July 9, 2019 (PDF)
• Photos from the April 2019 Student Presentations & Annual Business Meeting
• Minutes of the STC Executive Council Meeting
Houston, TX, April 2019 (PDF)
Teleconference, May 2019 (PDF)
Recap of the Student Presentations and Chapter Meeting, April 5–6, 2019
By: Latha Vasudevan, CHP, PhD, Chapter Past President
The State of Texas Chapter of the Health Physics Society (STC-HPS) held its annual student presentations meeting April 5–6, 2019, at the University of Houston, Houston, Texas. This year, we had more than 20 undergraduate and graduate student presenters and nearly 70 attendees. The students showcased their excellent work in various areas of health physics. Topics covered nuclear medicine, cyclotron decommissioning, various detector systems for nuclear security, radiological emergency response, mobile search systems, computed tomography, etc. All presentations were equally good so the judges had a difficult time tallying scores. The STC–HPS presented cash awards with first place ($250), second place ($100), and third place ($50) for best presentations in bachelor's, MS, and PhD degree levels.
We also invited our high school science fair winners (Houston and Dallas) to share their winning projects with us. One of the Houston fair winners also won our chapter award for the Texas Science and Engineering festival hosted by Texas A&M University. The chapter presented gift certificates to the science fair winners as a token of appreciation.
The STC–HPS announced the newly elected officers for the executive council: President-elect Matt Amen (UT–South Western), Treasurer-elect Erich Fruchtnicht (Texas A&M University), and Board member Otu Inyang (University of Houston). We are also excited to announce that the chapter designed its own customized table runner that can be used at all meetings. Altogether, this meeting was a huge success and the chapter is expressing its appreciation to all the members for their participation and cooperation.
The STC–HPS is planning its next affiliates meeting for September 2019 and the meeting venue is tentatively UT-South Western, Dallas, Texas.
The State of Texas Chapter of the Health Physics Society (STC-HPS) held its annual student presentations meeting April 5–6, 2019, at the University of Houston, Houston, Texas. This year, we had more than 20 undergraduate and graduate student presenters and nearly 70 attendees. The students showcased their excellent work in various areas of health physics. Topics covered nuclear medicine, cyclotron decommissioning, various detector systems for nuclear security, radiological emergency response, mobile search systems, computed tomography, etc. All presentations were equally good so the judges had a difficult time tallying scores. The STC–HPS presented cash awards with first place ($250), second place ($100), and third place ($50) for best presentations in bachelor's, MS, and PhD degree levels.
We also invited our high school science fair winners (Houston and Dallas) to share their winning projects with us. One of the Houston fair winners also won our chapter award for the Texas Science and Engineering festival hosted by Texas A&M University. The chapter presented gift certificates to the science fair winners as a token of appreciation.
The STC–HPS announced the newly elected officers for the executive council: President-elect Matt Amen (UT–South Western), Treasurer-elect Erich Fruchtnicht (Texas A&M University), and Board member Otu Inyang (University of Houston). We are also excited to announce that the chapter designed its own customized table runner that can be used at all meetings. Altogether, this meeting was a huge success and the chapter is expressing its appreciation to all the members for their participation and cooperation.
The STC–HPS is planning its next affiliates meeting for September 2019 and the meeting venue is tentatively UT-South Western, Dallas, Texas.
Science and Engineering Fair of Houston, February 23, 2019
By: Stan Bravenec, MS, DABSNM, CHMM, LMP
Two STC-HPS members (Otu Inyang and Stan Bravenec) judged the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston on February 23, 2019. The two judges interviewed multiple students, and although the competition was stiff, there were two projects that stood out above the rest. The two judges left the fair with a good feeling that there are some outstanding future Health Physicists, Scientists, Engineers, and Physicians getting started on their careers.
We have two great awardees, both in the senior category. They are not giving out the names and contact information at the fair anymore but will be sending it to the lead judges within a week. Winner certification report and photos of winners and judges are below.
Both projects were very well prepared and well presented. It was obvious that there were months of preparation and hard work invested in both of these outstanding projects. The State of Texas Chapter of the Health Physics Society is proud to present both winners with an award plaque and a one year Student membership in the Chapter. Congratulations to Jenna and Alexandra!
Two STC-HPS members (Otu Inyang and Stan Bravenec) judged the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston on February 23, 2019. The two judges interviewed multiple students, and although the competition was stiff, there were two projects that stood out above the rest. The two judges left the fair with a good feeling that there are some outstanding future Health Physicists, Scientists, Engineers, and Physicians getting started on their careers.
We have two great awardees, both in the senior category. They are not giving out the names and contact information at the fair anymore but will be sending it to the lead judges within a week. Winner certification report and photos of winners and judges are below.
Both projects were very well prepared and well presented. It was obvious that there were months of preparation and hard work invested in both of these outstanding projects. The State of Texas Chapter of the Health Physics Society is proud to present both winners with an award plaque and a one year Student membership in the Chapter. Congratulations to Jenna and Alexandra!
1st Place: Jenna Jackson: #3343: Coal Ash: Testing the effect of fly ash on radiation levels in soil at Texas coal power plants. Ms. Jackson investigated the radiation levels of fly ash surrounding coal power plants utilizing a high purity germanium detector to distinguish the peaks of the different radioisotopes present in her samples. This is important environmental monitoring around power plants.
2nd Place: Alexandra Tan: #3187: Mitochondrial effects of high energy high charge (HZE) irradiation on the liver. Ms. Tan investigated the effects of high energy high mass particle effects on mitochondria in liver cells utilizing samples that had been irradiated at Brookhaven National Labs. This is an important area of research dealing with astronaut health during travel in deep space.
Judges Otu Inyang and Stan Bravenec
STC Participated in the Scouts of America STEM Conference, April 2019
By: Ken Krieger, MS, CHP
On the same date as our last chapter meeting, the Scouts of America had the first annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) conference in the NRG Center, in Houston, TX.
I was sorry to miss the STC meeting but thought the STEM conference might be a good event to participate in. There were about 150 different booths set up in the NRG Arena, ranging from STEM training, companies that are in the STEM field, firefighting, high tech, automobiles, etc. I would estimate about 2,500 participants came and went all day. Scout leaders, teachers, parents, as well as the scouts themselves were in attendance. Many people came to the table interested in finding out about nuclear technologies and where they could go to learn more. I met some teachers and STEM coordinators from various places around Texas and gave them information about our Science Teacher Workshops.
A funny side to the story was the location of the booth space they assigned us. It was right below the air conditioning vent for the Arena. So, there was a significant breeze coming from the top and behind the booth. The cardboard cut outs showing information that I have would not stand without being blown over. Information papers would not stay on the table without something on top of it. Every time someone would pick up the meter or plate to look at it all the papers under it would blow away, and we would have to go chase them. I asked for a new location but they said they were completely full and had nowhere else for me to go. Hopefully, next year we will get a better location and not have to worry about stuff blowing away and we can display more items.
On the same date as our last chapter meeting, the Scouts of America had the first annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) conference in the NRG Center, in Houston, TX.
I was sorry to miss the STC meeting but thought the STEM conference might be a good event to participate in. There were about 150 different booths set up in the NRG Arena, ranging from STEM training, companies that are in the STEM field, firefighting, high tech, automobiles, etc. I would estimate about 2,500 participants came and went all day. Scout leaders, teachers, parents, as well as the scouts themselves were in attendance. Many people came to the table interested in finding out about nuclear technologies and where they could go to learn more. I met some teachers and STEM coordinators from various places around Texas and gave them information about our Science Teacher Workshops.
A funny side to the story was the location of the booth space they assigned us. It was right below the air conditioning vent for the Arena. So, there was a significant breeze coming from the top and behind the booth. The cardboard cut outs showing information that I have would not stand without being blown over. Information papers would not stay on the table without something on top of it. Every time someone would pick up the meter or plate to look at it all the papers under it would blow away, and we would have to go chase them. I asked for a new location but they said they were completely full and had nowhere else for me to go. Hopefully, next year we will get a better location and not have to worry about stuff blowing away and we can display more items.
Photos from the April 2019 Student Presentation Meeting
Photos by Stan Bravenec