Radiation education in Poland. The present status and perspectives

The necessity for the continued education about radiation (both in nuclear science and the technical application of radioisotopes) in the educational systems is obvious. For many years this subject has been part of a students education in physics as well as nonphysical areas of study, such as chemistry, biology, medicine, ecology and agriculture. Unfortunately in the wake of the disaster at Chernobyl, a number of negative factors have resulted that have undermined both educations in this crucial area and financial investment in Polish radiation institutes. Some sociologists have termed this behavior/viewpoint 'radio-phobia phenomena'. Might I be so bold as to recoin it as 'nuclear related paranoia' since it has caused a general breakdown in rational, 'cause and effect analysis' even within respectable scientific circles, including prominent radio biologists, who now accept radiation only as a destructive factor in biological and human life. The most important factor in this campaign will be the promotion and presentation of radiation in simple-understandable terms through the following outlets, (popular articles, TV programs, objective classroom presentation and so on), designed to be easily understandable to society as a whole. In this support is to be found in some governmental and independent organization, which do attempt to show radiation as bio-positive, human friendly and an economically indispensable factor for the future. However our fight with the so-called coal lobby' will continue to be difficult. Help by international organizations such as the I.A.E.A. will not suffice in this battle. In this article the author tries to describe the Polish education system and statistical data showing the present status of radiation science, radiation education and the quantity of students and experts in the field. As a nuclear physicist and specialist in radiation protection, lecturer and an Inspector of Radiation Protection, he provides insights from his own experience and offers his conclusions regarding efforts to encourage and promote radiation science and education. (J.P.N.)