[R. Cromack] BRAWM: Upcoming symposium on Fukushima?
BRAWM Team:
I had heard that there was a possibility that UCBNE was going to be putting together some sort of large-scale interdisciplinary symposium / international conference on the causes, concerns, and consequences of the ongoing Fukushima nuclear event, perhaps as early as late Spring or early Summer 2011. Reading the Kyodo News article below reminded me of this. I was just wondering: Any word / progress? Certainly I think you folks ought to "take point", for all sorts of geographical, as well as practical, reasons.
Perhaps this is something that we appreciative folks here CAN contribute funds to, as I'm sure this will be a significant financial and logistical undertaking.
I also notice that the University of Tokyo and Osaka University will be involved in this initiative.
What say you? I have my checkbook ready.
(Kyodo News article follows my signature)
Rick Cromack.
Allen, Texas
RichardFCromackJr@gmail.com
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http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/04/85516.html
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Academics eye extensive study on impact of nuclear crisis
TOKYO, April 14, Kyodo
Professors and researchers from across Japan will jointly launch a large-scale study on the environmental and health effects of radioactive materials spread by the crisis-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, people familiar with the matter said Thursday.
More than 100 professors and other scholars will take part in collecting data on the impact of Japan's worst-ever nuclear crisis while establishing a team of academics to check the radiation exposure of residents in areas affected by the leak of radioactive substances.
Starting in May, part of the group, working with the Fukushima prefectural government that has already began its own survey, will collect soil samples at 1,500 locations in areas stretching 100 kilometers along the coastal area centering on the crippled power plant as well as 60 km inland.
With regard to seawater contamination, they will look into the spread of radioactive materials off Fukuoka Prefecture, and their concentration in the food chain and impact on organisms.
They will consider establishing a website to disclose their findings.
The radiation checks will likely cover around 200,000 people living near the Fukushima plant, including around 30,000 who are 14 years old or younger and at high risk of cancer resulting from radioactive iodine accumulation in the thyroid gland.
The main participants in the study will include professors from the University of Tokyo and Osaka University.
==Kyodo
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