Support and integration of education and training for radiation protection research in the European joint programme CONCERT

CONCERT is a Euratom-funded European Joint Programme, set up as an umbrella structure to prioritise and support radiation safety research in the areas of low-dose risk, radioecology, nuclear emergency preparedness, radiation dosimetry, medical radiation protection, and the social sciences and humanities. It began in June 2015 and will run for 5 years. Members of the CONCERT consortium are national research funding agencies and the radiation protection platforms: Alliance (radioecology), NERIS (emergency response), MELODI (low-dose research), EURADOS (radiation dosimetry), and EURAMED (medical radiation protection). As well as organising open research calls, CONCERT undertakes integrative activities such as promotion of the wider use of the European radiation infrastructures, and the support of education and training. At the level of radiation exposure associated with most scenarios of concern for radiation safety, the incidence of harmful effects can be obscured by the noise of natural occurrence rates. Studies over many years are required to obtain reliable risk estimates, employing a wide range of scientific disciplines. This long-term broadscope process requires a programme of education and training specifically designed to ensure a continuing influx of new top-level students into the needed scientific areas. CONCERT includes a workpackage dedicated to the support of such a programme. (See http://www.concert-h2020.eu/en/Concert_info/Education_Training.) It consists of 5 subtasks: 1. Attracting and retaining students and junior scientists into the Radiation Protection research fields: A programme of travel grants will run for the duration of the EJP in order to provide greater opportunities for students to gain experience and networking through attending conferences, courses, and visiting other institutions. 2. Education and training as an essential part of dissemination and knowledge management within CONCERT: E&T should be an intrinsic part of all research programmes so that students can gain in-depth experience of the topic. The CONCERT open research calls require applicants to provide a plan as to how they will involve universities, and provide thesis and project opportunities for students. 3. Targeted E&T initiatives: There is an annual call for institutions to host short (1 to 3 week) courses in topics of their expertise. Sponsorship from CONCERT allows the courses to be offered at no cost and, in some cases, with accommodation provided. The topics specified in the calls are aligned with the E&T priorities of the partner research platforms. 4. Coordination and collaboration on E&T policy and strategy: An annual forum is held to discuss the E&T priorities of the platforms and other interested parties to provide guidance for the overall programme. 5. European integration of junior scientist career development: A European network of students and professors is being set up as a way of information sharing and career development.