The Health Physics Society (HPS) is a nonprofit scientific professional organization whose mission is excellence in the science and practice of radiation safety. It is based in the United States and the specific purposes of the society's activities include encouraging research in radiation science, developing standards, and disseminating radiation safety information. Society members are involved in understanding, evaluating, and controlling potential risks from radiation relative to the benefits.
The Society was formed in 1955, with an organizational meeting in June, 1955 at Ohio State UniversityColumbus, Ohio. As of 2013, the membership consists of approximately 5,500 scientists, physicians, engineers, and other professionals. The headquarters are in McLean, VA. The society is an affiliate of the American Institute of Physics.[1]
Activities
It publishes Health Physics since 1958, a peer-reviewedscientific journal; Health Physics News for material of interest to members, and Operational Radiation Safety. It operates a public information website, "Radiation Answers", and has begun a series of special publications (The first, Radiation and Risk: Expert Perspectives was published in March 2012.)[2]
It holds its annual meeting in July, and a mid-year meeting in January or February.[3]
The society has 37 geographically based chapters, all in the United States, except for one chapter in the Georgian Republic[4] and one in Taiwan; there are 8 Sections on special interests.[3]