TRansfer - Exposure - Effects (TREE): integrating the science needed to underpin radioactivity assessments for humans and wildlife
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Salford
Department Name: Sch of Environment & Life Sciences
Abstract
For all sources of radioactivity, radiological risk assessments are essential for safeguarding human and environmental health. But assessments often have to rely upon simplistic assumptions, such as the use of simple ratios in risk calculations which combine many processes. This pragmatic approach has largely arisen due to the lack of scientific knowledge and/or data in key areas. The resultant uncertainty has been taken into account through conservative approaches to radiological risk assessment which may tend to overestimate risk. Uncertainty arises at all stages of the assessment process from the estimation of transfer to human foodstuffs and wildlife, exposure and risk. Reducing uncertainty is important as it relates directly to scientific credibility, which will always be open to challenge given the highly sensitive nature of radiological risk assessment in society. We propose an integrated, multi-disciplinary, programme to assess and reduce the uncertainty associated with radiological risk assessment to protect human health and the environment. At the same time we will contribute to building the capacity needed to ensure that the UK rebuilds and maintains expertise in environmental radioactivity into the future.
Our project has four major and highly inter-related components to address the key goal of RATE to rebuild UK capacity and make a major contribution to enhancing environmental protection and safeguarding human health.
The first component will study how the biological availability of radionuclides varies in soils over time. We will investigate if short-term measurements (collected in three year controlled experiments) can be used to predict the long-term availability of radionuclides in soils by testing our models in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The second component will apply the concepts of 'phylogeny' and 'ionomics' to characterise radionuclide uptake by plants and other organisms. These approaches, and statistical modelling methods, are increasingly applied to describe uptake of a range of elements in plant nutrition, and we are pioneering their use for studying radionuclide uptake in other organisms and human foods. A particularly exciting aspect of the approach is the possibility to make predictions for any plant or animal. This is of great value as it is impossible to measure uptake for all wildlife, crops and farm animals. The third component of the work will extend our efforts to improve the quantification of radiation exposure and understanding of resultant biological effects by investigating the underlying mechanisms involved. A key aim is to see whether what we know from experiments on animals and plants in the laboratory is a good representation of what happens in the real world: some scientists believe that animals in the natural environment are more susceptible to radiation than laboratory animals: we need to test this to have confidence in our risk assessments. Together these studies will enable us to reduce and better quantify the uncertainties associated with radiological risk assessment.
By training a cohort of PDRA and PhDs our fourth component will help to renew UK capacity in environmental radioactivity by providing trained, experienced researchers who are well networked within the UK and internationally through the contacts of the investigators. Our students will be trained in a wide range of essential skills through their controlled laboratory studies and working in contaminated environments. They will benefit from being a member of a multidisciplinary team and opportunities to take placements with our beneficiaries and extensive range of project partners.
The outputs of the project will benefit governmental and non-governmental organisations with responsibility for assessing the risks to humans and wildlife posed by environmental radioactivity. It will also make a major contribution to improved scientific and public confidence in the outcomes of environmental safety assessments.
Our project has four major and highly inter-related components to address the key goal of RATE to rebuild UK capacity and make a major contribution to enhancing environmental protection and safeguarding human health.
The first component will study how the biological availability of radionuclides varies in soils over time. We will investigate if short-term measurements (collected in three year controlled experiments) can be used to predict the long-term availability of radionuclides in soils by testing our models in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The second component will apply the concepts of 'phylogeny' and 'ionomics' to characterise radionuclide uptake by plants and other organisms. These approaches, and statistical modelling methods, are increasingly applied to describe uptake of a range of elements in plant nutrition, and we are pioneering their use for studying radionuclide uptake in other organisms and human foods. A particularly exciting aspect of the approach is the possibility to make predictions for any plant or animal. This is of great value as it is impossible to measure uptake for all wildlife, crops and farm animals. The third component of the work will extend our efforts to improve the quantification of radiation exposure and understanding of resultant biological effects by investigating the underlying mechanisms involved. A key aim is to see whether what we know from experiments on animals and plants in the laboratory is a good representation of what happens in the real world: some scientists believe that animals in the natural environment are more susceptible to radiation than laboratory animals: we need to test this to have confidence in our risk assessments. Together these studies will enable us to reduce and better quantify the uncertainties associated with radiological risk assessment.
By training a cohort of PDRA and PhDs our fourth component will help to renew UK capacity in environmental radioactivity by providing trained, experienced researchers who are well networked within the UK and internationally through the contacts of the investigators. Our students will be trained in a wide range of essential skills through their controlled laboratory studies and working in contaminated environments. They will benefit from being a member of a multidisciplinary team and opportunities to take placements with our beneficiaries and extensive range of project partners.
The outputs of the project will benefit governmental and non-governmental organisations with responsibility for assessing the risks to humans and wildlife posed by environmental radioactivity. It will also make a major contribution to improved scientific and public confidence in the outcomes of environmental safety assessments.
Planned Impact
Nuclear new-build and waste disposal require rigorous safety assessments of effects on the biosphere and human health to underpin decisions which often involve public consultation. The credibility of scientific evidence is open to challenge given the sensitive nature of radiological risk assessment. The publicity (www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10819027) associated with scientific dispute on the environmental effects of radiation hinders informed debate on nuclear issues and will impinge upon the economic competitiveness of the UK by delaying decisions on future energy supplies and disposal. Unbiased scientific opinion, based on rigorous research, and demonstration of fitness for purpose of assessment approaches will aid debate in the UK and overseas thereby directly supporting the public, regulators and industry.
This project addresses 4 of the 5 priority areas identified by the RATE programme ensuring we will make major contributions to the programme's objectives. We will produce capacity that will benefit the RCUK Energy Plan whilst producing innovative, excellent science that will also underpin the commercial sector.
The consortium partners represent a significant proportion of current UK capability in the key radioecological fields identified by RATE. As part of the project, 4 PDRAs and a cohort of 7 PhD students with the skills to build on this capacity will be trained, enhancing the UK research capability and providing skilled practitioners for industry/regulators. Our summer school at Chernobyl and training programme will be open to PhD students from all RATE consortia, the European STAR radioecology Network of Excellence and our project partners.
NDA and EA will benefit from reduced uncertainty in wildlife and human assessment models. Key radionuclides identified in geological repositories assessments are the focus of soil-plant biogeochemical studies and development of phylogenetic models to predict activity concentrations in wildlife and human foodchain models. New data and phylogenetic-ionomic models will significantly improve transfer models for Reference Animals and Plants (RAPs). They also have the potential to identify suitable surrogates for protected species for environmental monitoring and to be applicable to human and environmental assessment.
In particular EA will also benefit from the effects data obtained for some RAPs which will help fitness-for-purpose assessment of the ICRP's Derived Consideration Reference Levels. An improved understanding of biological effect mechanisms of radiation will be gained including the evaluation of trans-generation effects and how this may impact on populations. These outputs will feed into the derivation of robust, scientifically defensible numeric criteria for use in wildlife dose assessments at an international level and will expand basic knowledge on chronic low level radiation effects.
SEPA will benefit from improved approaches and reduced/quantified uncertainties for environmental and human foodchain assessments. Equivalent overseas agencies will similarly benefit through our input to key international organisations. For instance, the IAEA and ICRP who provide the guidance and recommendations on radiation protection used to define regulation at European and national levels. International guidance for ensuring the environment is protected from releases of radioactive substances is still developing and the outputs from TREE will provide key inputs. Close engagement of consortium members with national and international agencies and other beneficiaries will ensure that impacts will be realised immediately. Benefits will continue to be realised, and project outputs exploited, as international organisations and national regulators develop recommendations and decisions are made on nuclear related issues using the improved knowledge from this project.
This project addresses 4 of the 5 priority areas identified by the RATE programme ensuring we will make major contributions to the programme's objectives. We will produce capacity that will benefit the RCUK Energy Plan whilst producing innovative, excellent science that will also underpin the commercial sector.
The consortium partners represent a significant proportion of current UK capability in the key radioecological fields identified by RATE. As part of the project, 4 PDRAs and a cohort of 7 PhD students with the skills to build on this capacity will be trained, enhancing the UK research capability and providing skilled practitioners for industry/regulators. Our summer school at Chernobyl and training programme will be open to PhD students from all RATE consortia, the European STAR radioecology Network of Excellence and our project partners.
NDA and EA will benefit from reduced uncertainty in wildlife and human assessment models. Key radionuclides identified in geological repositories assessments are the focus of soil-plant biogeochemical studies and development of phylogenetic models to predict activity concentrations in wildlife and human foodchain models. New data and phylogenetic-ionomic models will significantly improve transfer models for Reference Animals and Plants (RAPs). They also have the potential to identify suitable surrogates for protected species for environmental monitoring and to be applicable to human and environmental assessment.
In particular EA will also benefit from the effects data obtained for some RAPs which will help fitness-for-purpose assessment of the ICRP's Derived Consideration Reference Levels. An improved understanding of biological effect mechanisms of radiation will be gained including the evaluation of trans-generation effects and how this may impact on populations. These outputs will feed into the derivation of robust, scientifically defensible numeric criteria for use in wildlife dose assessments at an international level and will expand basic knowledge on chronic low level radiation effects.
SEPA will benefit from improved approaches and reduced/quantified uncertainties for environmental and human foodchain assessments. Equivalent overseas agencies will similarly benefit through our input to key international organisations. For instance, the IAEA and ICRP who provide the guidance and recommendations on radiation protection used to define regulation at European and national levels. International guidance for ensuring the environment is protected from releases of radioactive substances is still developing and the outputs from TREE will provide key inputs. Close engagement of consortium members with national and international agencies and other beneficiaries will ensure that impacts will be realised immediately. Benefits will continue to be realised, and project outputs exploited, as international organisations and national regulators develop recommendations and decisions are made on nuclear related issues using the improved knowledge from this project.
Organisations
- University of Salford (Lead Research Organisation)
- McMaster University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management (Collaboration)
- University of Portsmouth (Collaboration)
- UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD (Collaboration)
- University of Plymouth (Collaboration)
- University of Stirling (Collaboration)
Publications
Caravaggi A
(2017)
A review of camera trapping for conservation behaviour research
in Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation
Stark K
(2017)
Dose assessment in environmental radiological protection: State of the art and perspectives.
in Journal of environmental radioactivity
Tagami K
(2018)
Radiocaesium transfer and radiation exposure of frogs in Fukushima Prefecture.
in Scientific reports
Stowell D
(2018)
Automatic acoustic detection of birds through deep learning: The first Bird Audio Detection challenge
in Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Aramrun P
(2018)
Selecting passive dosimetry technologies for measuring the external dose of terrestrial wildlife.
in Journal of environmental radioactivity
Guillén J
(2018)
Transfer parameters for ICRP's Reference Animals and Plants in a terrestrial Mediterranean ecosystem.
in Journal of environmental radioactivity
Title | Chernobyl our natural laboratory |
Description | Short video of our work in Chernobyl |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Impact | Generally well received [will potentially be used as an example of good practice in CEH scicom training courses] |
URL | https://youtu.be/Jp2R8--E1pY |
Description | Species composition of large mammals in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is comparable between high and low contamination areas. Developed new method for analysing acoustic recordings to determine level of animal activity as a proxy for biodiversity. Virtual reality tours of Chernobyl have led to significant changes in public perception regarding the impacts of radiation on the environment. |
Exploitation Route | Our findings are being used by policy makers and industry to inform their dialogue with stakeholders. This is evidenced through an international survey undertaken in December 2010 and testimonial letters (available on request) from a selection of relevant orgaistaions. |
Sectors | Energy,Environment |
URL | https://thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist/158-biologist/features/1493-out-of-the-ashes |
Description | Currently findings about large mammals in Chernobyl have been used to aid communication about radiation and its impacts on the environment (e.g. by media and government organisations, such as RWM). Virtual Chernobyl has also been used in an education setting to support teaching and capacity building in relation to radiation protection, risk perception and environmental decision making. Radionuclide transfer research, including new models based on taxonomy, has been used to improve the world's most widely used environmental radiation protection tool (ERICA) and advance the International Commission on Radiological Protection's recommended approach to environmental assessments based on Reference Animals and Plants. Some of this research has formed the basis of a REF2021 impact case study. Findings continue to inform media discussion, including in relation to potential impacts of the Russian military activity within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Education,Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
Description | Environmental protection training courses |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | We included sessions on the impact of TREE research in courses on radiological environmental protection attended by primarily by regulators and industry. Two courses were run in July 2019. |
Description | Environmental protection training courses 2020 |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Included sessions on TREE outputs into two training courses held for regulators/industry/consultants/researchers in autumn 2020 |
Description | KE event for RASSC at IAEA |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Description | Participation in UN IAEA working group |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Description | Chernobyl - a radioactive ecosystem on fire (CHAR) |
Amount | ÂŁ65,525 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/V009346/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2020 |
End | 06/2021 |
Description | NERC Innovation Follow on Fund |
Amount | ÂŁ100,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/R009619/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2017 |
End | 04/2019 |
Description | NERC Urgency Grant |
Amount | ÂŁ51,970 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/P015212/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2016 |
End | 10/2017 |
Title | Bird Vocalisation Activity (BiVA) database: annotated soundscapes from the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone |
Description | Data comprise audio files captured using a Wildlife Acoustics SM3 Songmeter located on an overgrown unpaved road close to several abandoned houses with deciduous trees (including fruit trees in former gardens) in the abandoned village of Buryakovka in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine. A single continuous recording of twelve hours of audio from midday until midnight on the 25th June 2015 was manually annotated by an expert (using Raven Pro interactive sound analysis software). The dataset comprises the resultant five wave files (stereo .wav sampled at 48 kHz) and five annotation files (text files with the same name as the associated wave file). |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Being used in method development |
Title | Elemental and radionuclide concentrations for several vegetation species from a site in Extremadura, Spain |
Description | Data comprise elemental and radionuclide concentrations in freeze-dried Mediterranean plants, seeds and oven dried soil. The samples were collected in June 2014 along a transect located in the Monfragüe National Park which is within the province of Cáceres, western Spain (start: N 33° 49' 47.2'', W 006° 01' 55.4'', end: N 390 49'46.8'', W 0060 02' 05.1'' (geocentric World Geodetic System 1984 (GPS WG 884)). Thirty plant species (Agrostis pourretii; Campanula rapunculus; Taraxacum sp.; Taraxacum officinale; Rumex scutatus; Hypericum perforatum; Schoenoplectus pungens; Erica umbellata; Phillyrea angustifolia; Myrtus communis; Cytisus sp.; Vitis vinifera subsp. Sylvestris; Crataegus monogyna; Daphne gnidium; Quercus ilex; Ruscus aculeatus; Olea europaea subsp. Europaea; Hordeum murinum; Pistacia terebinthus; Acer monspessulanum; Ficus carica; Cistus ladanifer; Eryngium campestre; Carlina vulgaris; Asparagus acutifolius; Viburnum tinus; Tamarix gallica; Jasminum fruticans; Rubia peregrine; Trifolium campestre) and three soil samples were collected and analysed by ICPMS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) or ICPOES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy) to determine their elemental concentrations. Seeds from six of the plant species were also collected and analysed. Plant samples of sufficient mass (n=16) and the three soil samples were also analysed for selected gamma emitting radionuclides (Be-7, Cs-137 and K-40). |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Data are being used to update international databases of radionuclide to transfer and will subsequent be used to update international recommendations. The data have also been used to fit alternative taxonomic/phylogenetic models. |
Description | McMasters University (Canada) |
Organisation | McMaster University |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Access to study materials |
Collaborator Contribution | Development of biomarkers for radiation exposure |
Impact | n/a |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management (SAUEZM) |
Organisation | State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management |
Country | Ukraine |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Development of educational resources to translate our Chernobyl science into a format that is accessible to school pupils and the public. SAUEZM is the Agency of the Ukrainian Government that is responsible for management of the Chernobyl legacy (including Chernobyl-contaminated land areas within Ukraine). Our educational resources are helping SAUEZM provide the public with a clearer understanding or radiation risk and the impacts of Chernobyl. The resources are also being used directly for education within Ukrainian schools. |
Collaborator Contribution | Organisation and hosting of engagement events, provision of translation support for resources development and during meetings/interviews. |
Impact | Engagement events for school pupils, school teachers, universities and industry |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | TREE |
Organisation | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We contribute to work packages with these collaborators on the TREE consortium. Collaborate at multiple levels - sharing expertise, joint planning, joint supervision and joint publishing. reciprocal lab visits. |
Collaborator Contribution | As above |
Impact | as in outputs |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | TREE |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We contribute to work packages with these collaborators on the TREE consortium. Collaborate at multiple levels - sharing expertise, joint planning, joint supervision and joint publishing. reciprocal lab visits. |
Collaborator Contribution | As above |
Impact | as in outputs |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | TREE |
Organisation | University of Plymouth |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We contribute to work packages with these collaborators on the TREE consortium. Collaborate at multiple levels - sharing expertise, joint planning, joint supervision and joint publishing. reciprocal lab visits. |
Collaborator Contribution | As above |
Impact | as in outputs |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | TREE |
Organisation | University of Portsmouth |
Department | School of Earth & Environmental Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We contribute to work packages with these collaborators on the TREE consortium. Collaborate at multiple levels - sharing expertise, joint planning, joint supervision and joint publishing. reciprocal lab visits. |
Collaborator Contribution | As above |
Impact | as in outputs |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | TREE |
Organisation | University of Salford |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We contribute to work packages with these collaborators on the TREE consortium. Collaborate at multiple levels - sharing expertise, joint planning, joint supervision and joint publishing. reciprocal lab visits. |
Collaborator Contribution | As above |
Impact | as in outputs |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | TREE |
Organisation | University of Stirling |
Department | Biological and Environmental Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We contribute to work packages with these collaborators on the TREE consortium. Collaborate at multiple levels - sharing expertise, joint planning, joint supervision and joint publishing. reciprocal lab visits. |
Collaborator Contribution | As above |
Impact | as in outputs |
Start Year | 2013 |
Title | Virtual Chernobyl |
Description | This was part funder by a NERC 50th anniversary summer of science grant plus additional funding was secured from University of Salford to develop 'Virtual Chernobyl' as part of our public engagement activity around the WP3 work. Whilst in Chernobyl we captured 360 degree video which was then used in the development of an interactive virtual reality experience that allows audiences to explore Chernobyl and our WP3 science in a unique and engaging way. |
Type Of Technology | Physical Model/Kit |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Impact | 520 participants at July 15 event (most staying for over 30 minutes) and approximately 2000 visitors at the Manchester Science Festival in October 15. Virtual Chernobyl has also been showcased at NERC-CEH (Nov 15), the IAEA in Vienna (Nov 15) and at a capacity building event in Japan (Feb 16). Further events are planned, including an event at NERC Swindon in March 16 and an exhibition at the Museum of Science & Industry (April 16). The April 16 event is timed to coincide with the 30th Anniversary of the Chernobyl accident. |
Title | Virtual Chernobyl 2 |
Description | This is the new version of Virtual Chernobyl, which we have used for a few years to facilitate public engagement in our science. This updated version runs on Oculus Go, so is highly portable as a Virtual reality experience. It can also be viewed using a normal computer or tablet. We are working with various organisations, including the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management, to enhance the uptake and impact of Virtual Chernobyl 2. For example, we are working with schools in Ukraine to identify the questions that our research findings can help to answer and then incorporation this into the Virtual Chernobyl 2 experience. |
Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Impact | Increased engagement with our research. Used to enthuse the Fukushima Prefecture administration to consider alternative, creative approaches to science communication related to radiation risk Benefits to education etc are in progress, but yet to be realised. |
Description | BBC 1 Breakfast TV interview about Chernobyl |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | BBC TV interview discussing how our research is helping to inform decisions about the future management of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and surrounding areas. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://twitter.com/ProfMikeWood/status/1097520025001431040 |
Description | BBC Environment reporter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | BBC Environment reporter -Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Camera Trap work as a picture story, Mike Woods |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-32452085 |
Description | BBC Interview Nov 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview with BBC environment reporter (Mark Kinver) on TREE project and the exposure of wildlife to radioactivity, Mike Woods (University of Salford) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30197341 |
Description | BBC Interview to promote 3-day public engagement event at MOSI |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interview to promote 3-day public engagement event at MOSI (BBC Radio Manchester) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | BBC Radio 5 Live interview about Chernobyl research |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Radio interview discussing how our research is helping to inform decisions about the future management of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and surrounding areas. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://twitter.com/ProfMikeWood/status/1096848548694577153 |
Description | BBC documentary (Our World: In the shadow of Chernobyl) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | TREE research featured in a BBC documentary that was broadcast internationally and won the Association of Birtish Science Writers' 'Video Story of the Year' award in 2020 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0c44hq5 |
Description | COGER 2014: Reducing uncertainty in assessment of wildlife radiation exposure |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Talk promoted interest in and discussion about the Chernobyl research Many members of the audience expressed interest in being kept informed about TREE research and, if possible, becoming involved. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Channel 4 News, July 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Channel 4 filming of the TREE Research in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone followed by Channel 4 news report, Mike Woods. Channel 4 News - piece (5 minutes) on wildlife in the CEZ aired Tuesday 14th July 2015 and available via catch-up for 7 days |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Chernobyl 30th Anniversary event at MSI |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 3-day public engagement event at the Museum of Science and industry in Manchester to coincide with the Chernobyl anniversary. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Chernobyl bears |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Publication of footage of brown bears in CEZ. Nick Beresford (CEH) and Mike Woods (University of Salford). Numerous Chernobyl Bears stories and articles published on the web by different news media groups followed, plus various radio interviews. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30197341 |
Description | Chernobyl summer school |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | A Summer School was held in the Chernobyl exclusion zone for 20 PhD students in September 2015. This was so successful that options are being explored for further similar events. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Development of VirtualChernobyl.com to support dissemination of Virtual Chernobyl internationally |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Virtual Chernobyl provides a VR-based mechanism for sharing TREE research. Specifically tailored for public engagement and educational use, Virtual Chernobyl is also being used by industry, regulators, radiation protection practitioners and community groups. VirtualChernobyl.com is a website that has been developed to facilitate the sharing of Virtual Chernobyl internationally. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | http://www.virtualchernobyl.com/ |
Description | Discussion of TREE in a Conversation article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | The TREE project was discussed in a Conversation article which led to wide syndication in national newspapers, websites and regional newspapers. Led to direct media engagment |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://theconversation.com/chernobyl-has-become-a-refuge-for-wildlife-33-years-after-the-nuclear-ac... |
Description | Documentary for BBC4 - Inside Chernobyl's Mega Tomb |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | TREE WP3 work featured in a documentary made by Windfall films on the development of Chernobyl's 'New Safe Confinement'. Screened on BBC4 (21st Dec 16 and repeated on 22nd Dec 16) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08650s6 |
Description | EC STAR meeting: Multidisciplinary advances in field dosimetry |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Talk prompted discussion on radiation dose measurement in wildlife Agreement to develop a joint publication on environmental dosimetry |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | IAEA MODARIA STAR Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 2 presentations given relating to TREE WP2: Wood MD, Beresford NA, Copplestone D, Howard BJ, Yankovich TL. Terrestrial concentration ratio database: Analyses by wildlife groups and RAPs. N.A. Beresford, M.D. Wood, T. Yankovich, C.L. Barnett, N. Willey, B. Penrose. Wildlife Transfer Database - REML analyses |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | ICRER 2014: Re-thinking animal environment interaction modelling for wildlife dose assessment |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Talk sparked discussion about radiation exposure of wildlife After the talk, one of the audience offered to provide access to data which will further enhance our work on wildlife exposure modelling |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Interview for ABC |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Interview for the Red Symons breakfast show on ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company), Mike Woods |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Lo Rise Winter School Jan 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Introduction to environmental protection and TREE, with presentations by TREE members including practical demonstrations of using the ERICA tool. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://wiki.ceh.ac.uk/pages/viewpage.action?atl_token=ca5c02f95c88a14058fbad567bb8b4eb3e08f681&page... |
Description | MODARIA 2013: Animal-environment interaction modelling |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Talk initiated discussion on the opportunities for including future data outputs from TREE in the activities of the IAEA environmental modelling programme Consideration amongst working group members of the future use of TREE research outputs in the IAEA programme. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Manchester Science Festival 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Display and demonstration at the Platform for Investigation (PI) event at the Museum Of Science and Industry as part of Manchester Science Festival (Funded through NERC Summer Science grant). Demonstration of Virtual Chernobyl Experience. 520 participants at July event (most staying for over 30 minutes). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | RATE Final Impact Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A dissemination of results to end users - the Environment Agency and Radioactive waste Management Ltd - in a workshop over three days to which a wide range of politicians (it was in westminster), industry, the media and anyone interested was invited. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.bgs.ac.uk/rate/finalScienceMeeting.html |
Description | Radiation protection workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Environmental radiation protection capacity building workshops, based around TREE research, for Japanese Government (Feb 2015; Feb 2016) and EC/IAEA (Sept 2015). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Radio Television Suisse interview 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Radio Television Suisse interview - TREE work in the CEZ. Mike Woods |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Re-screen of documentary on BBC4 - Inside Chernobyl's Mega Tomb |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Documentary featuring TREE WP3 work repeated on BBC4 on 14.01.17 and due to screen on PBS in the US during Spring 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08650s6 |
Description | SRP 2014: Chernobyl Diaries |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation initiated discussion about environmental radiation protection. After the presentation, a representative from Mirion Technologies discussed my research programme with me and agreed to supply (free opf charge) some new dose measurement equipment for use in our field research in Chernobyl. They also agreed to collaborate with us on the further development of this dose measurement equipment to optimise it for field application. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Social media activities |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Posting of pictures on social media showing activities e.g. @Radioecology exchange #ChernobylDiaries. Used by students at summer school in Chernobyl, created Twitter following using the #ChernobylDiaries. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://twitter.com/radioecology |
Description | TREE Annual Meeting 2 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The second NERC, RWM, EA and STFC funded review of progress on research that has included radiological research utilising material from the Chernobyl vicinity was held on 23 & 24 November at CEH Wallingford |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://wiki.ceh.ac.uk/pages/viewpage.action?atl_token=ca5c02f95c88a14058fbad567bb8b4eb3e08f681&page... |
Description | TREE annual meeting 1 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The first NERC, RWM, EA and STFC funded review of progress on research that has included radiological research utilising material from the Chernobyl vicinity was held on 24 November at Manchester University. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | https://wiki.ceh.ac.uk/pages/viewpage.action?atl_token=ca5c02f95c88a14058fbad567bb8b4eb3e08f681&page... |
Description | TREE outreach workshop for the Environment Agency |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Discussion of the TREE project with the Environment Agency who are one of the projects end users |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Workshop: TREE-ALLIANCE workshop on Radiation effects studies conducted in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Workshop bringing together researchers who have worked in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) over the last 5 years [also attended by NERC, EA and Radioactive Waste Management Ltd]. Agreement to prepare (i) statement paper; (ii) meta-database on CEZ studies |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://radioecology-exchange.org/content/workshops |