What is the point of radiation research?

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We are constantly confronted with radiation. A world without radiation is neither possible nor desirable. On one hand, it has led to technical and medical progress. On the other hand, it poses a risk to human health and the environment.

Whether artificial or natural radiation (e.g. radon and UV light): as a society, we are regularly faced with the question of which risks we are willing to take and to what extent. Better assessment of health risks from radiation is essential for protecting people – whether in everyday life, at the workplace, in cosmetics and medicine, or in an emergency. Radiation research helps to closes gaps in knowledge, especially for particularly sensitive groups such as children. Well-founded risk assessments are an important basis for taking action – and also for weighing up the possible risks and potential benefits.

A responsible science, technology, environment, and health policy therefore considers the possible effects of radiation from the outset and ensures the appropriate research.

Whether digitalisation and new technologies, environmental radioactivity in water, air, and soil, accidents with radioactive materials, or radiation applications in medicine and cosmetics: all this makes radiation protection and radiation research a diverse field. And this requires an equally diverse research landscape as well as broadly anchored expertise (knowledge, skills, and abilities) in research, industry, and administration. However, many places in Germany are suffering from a loss of expertise and research infrastructures. This contrasts with the requirement for a dynamic, forward-looking research infrastructure.

Maintaining and expanding radiation protection expertise in Germany

In cooperation with other stakeholders, the BfS has analysed the needs to maintain and expand radiation protection expertise in Germany: Needs analysis for the maintenance and expansion of radiation protection expertise in Germany (June 2021). In addition to research and development, other aspects play an important role: education and teaching, further education and training, a well-founded knowledge base, and committee work and networks. Radiation protection in Germany is thus viewed quite broadly. The 17 fields of expertise are by no means exhaustive. New fields of application are continually emerging in radiation protection. This means that new fields of expertise may have to be developed. For example, in the direction of personalised radiation protection for patients.

Radiation research: important contribution to basic biological research

With regard to radiation research in Germany, the SSK published a statement on 9 June 2021: Long-term safeguarding of expertise in the field of radiation research and application in Germany – most important scientific disciplines and key stakeholders in research. "Radiation research has contributed significantly to important findings in basic biological research. For example, in the areas of DNA repair and cell cycle control. In the long term, these findings have led to the development of therapeutic approaches and medications. From the perspective of the SSK, it is therefore important to sustainably integrate radiation research into national research strategies".

Radiation research is making an important contribution to key issues of the future. The BfS is committed to maintaining and expanding the capabilities necessary for this.