REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT THE 11TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON RADIATION RESEARCH
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT THE 11TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON RADIATION RESEARCH UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
Tá lúcháir orm bheith anseo libh inniu agus ba mhaith liom failte fíorchaoin a chur romhaibh go léir chuig an chomhdháil seo.
Let me begin by thanking Dr Carmel Mothersill, Ciarán Taaffe and all of the organising committee for inviting me to become Patron of this, the 11th International Congress on Radiation Research. I am delighted to join you here today and I would like to extend an especially warm welcome and 'Céad Míle Fáilte’ to those of you who have travelled from overseas. I hope that your stay in Ireland will be both productive and enjoyable.
The importance of this Congress is that it fosters and develops scientific co-operation at international level between national research societies and, crucially, individual scientists. That sharing and exchange of information is fundamental to advancing human knowledge. All too often in the past, the greatest barrier to new discoveries has been the very human tendency for one individual or group to jealously guard one piece of the research jigsaw, in the hope of being the first to make the breakthrough. Yet their ultimate goal might have been achieved much sooner, if all the scientists in the field had put their discoveries – their individual pieces of the jigsaw - into a common pool of information.
This Congress has, over the years, done much to promote that partnership approach. It is of particular importance in relation to radiation research, for the effects of radiation on the environment and on public health are no respecters of international boundaries. Problems arising in one country will affect others, just as solutions arrived at in one location can be of benefit to all.
Research provides the means of understanding the effects of radiation and of identifying safe levels of exposure. It is essential, however, that this knowledge is not only shared within the international scientific community, but is also disseminated outwards - with policy-makers and the general public. So often, legislation, regulation and public understanding lags behind scientific discovery, creating a vacuum in which fear and misinformation can spread.
If our legislators are to understand and put in place effective protection standards for workers and members of the public – based on sound, scientific research – more must be done to open up channels of communication. Scientists may sometimes believe that their research is oversimplified, distorted and misunderstood. The public, on the other hand, often feels that there is an information deficit, even a deliberate strategy to hide the facts – or that when information is conveyed, it is wrapped up in language that seems impenetrable, mysterious and forbidding – and which does little to foster real understanding.
It is therefore in the interests of researchers and society alike, that public opinion is properly informed - in clear and comprehensible language – of the real issues we face. Congresses such as this can play a vital role in promoting a broader and more relevant concept of what a scientist should be - a communicator as well as a researcher, someone who seeks to broaden as well as deepen understanding of a particular field of research.
That opportunity for dialogue and increasing public awareness which this Congress presents, is all the more important, given that so many of the topics being discussed are of vital interest to the public, not least here in Ireland. I understand, for example, that several speakers will discuss the effects of radon – and its link with the risk of lung cancer. Others will present findings in relation to marine radioecology and issues affecting the protection of the marine environment. These are matters of profound importance to public health and the environment both in Ireland and internationally.
We are honoured that this 11th International Congress on Radiation Research is being held in Ireland. I would like to thank the many people who have worked so tirelessly in organising and staging this event so successfully – in particular, Dr. Michael Moriarty and all of his colleagues on the National Organising Committee; together with the staff of the Radiation Science Centre of the Dublin Institute of Technology.
I wish all of you well in your deliberations at this Congress and in your future work. I hope that you will return home not just with new knowledge and increased enthusiasm, but also having built many new partnerships and personal friendships during your time here.
Guím gach rath agus séan oraibh sa todhchaí.