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Isotopes & Radiation Division

Mission Statement

The Isotopes and Radiation Division (IRD) is focused on fundamental and applied technology related to the production and use of isotopes, nuclear methods of analysis, and the measurement of radionuclides and ionizing radiation. Specific areas of interest to IRD members include:

Production, characterization, and utilization of isotopes for medicine and industry using reactors and alternate sources of production
Nuclear methods for material characterization including ionizing radiation beam techniques and activation analysis
Radiometric and radiochemistry techniques for quantitative analysis, nuclear data measurements, and the study of radionuclide behavior in the environment
Measurement techniques and applications as they apply to nuclear security including treaty monitoring and verification, nuclear nonproliferation, safeguarding nuclear materials, and nuclear forensics
The application and development of nuclear technology for the life sciences, as well as the impact of such technology on society including radiation beam therapy, medical physics, radiographic and radioisotope imaging, radionuclide biological tracers, instrumentation, radiopharmaceutical synthesis and radionuclide production, dosimetry and effects of ionizing radiation, and other related subjects.

IRD Activities

The Isotopes and Radiation Division is one of the original divisions of the Society, and our diverse membership - from academia, government, and industry - plays a pivotal role in advancing the ANS mission to cultivate nuclear technology for the benefit of humanity.

Our division highlights the work and accomplishments of more than 1,100 members, including over 150 student members.

IRD fosters outstanding technical forums in National Meetings and topical meetings organized by the division, and presents several awards in recognition of its members.

IRD continues to be a leader in technical contributions to the national and international scientific community through sponsorship of the International Conference on Methods and Applications of Radioanalytical Chemistry (MARC). MARC remains a premier topical meeting in the field thanks to the expertise and enthusiastic contributions of IRD members and leaders.

In all its efforts, IRD actively addresses critical technical and scientific issues affecting nuclear science and technology, and its members contribute to ANS position statements related to the division's mission areas.