Join us for some pizza and a great talk about science! We are continuing our talks at The Frontier, thanks to a partnership with STEM RTP!

This time we'll be speaking with Robert Hayes, associate professor of nuclear engineering at North Carolina State University.

What is Health Physics and Why Is It Important?

“Health physics” is the profession devoted to protecting people and their environment from potential radiation hazards, while making it possible to enjoy the benefits of the peaceful use of the atom. Radiation control incorporates an understanding of many disciplines, including physics, biology, chemistry, engineering, and ecology. Many industries, medical facilities, defense plants, and research laboratories demand professionals who understand radiation hazards and their prevention and control. Prominent among scientists is the health physicist, who controls the beneficial use of radiation while protecting workers and the public from potential hazards.

Bio: Robert Hayes is an associate professor of nuclear engineering at North Carolina State University. He is also a licensed professional engineer in nuclear engineering and a certified health physicist. Hayes is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and has a joint faculty appointment with Oak Ridge National Laboratory through the Consortium for Nonproliferation Enabling Capabilities. He served for many years in the federal radiological monitoring and assessment center as an assessment scientist and as a team scientist for the radiological assistance program. He also spent almost a decade doing nuclear waste disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. His research focuses on radiological air monitoring and retrospective dosimetry.

BEFORE THE TALK BEGINS: Sigma Xi will be hosting a 15-minute "speed networking" meet and greet session for our pizza lunch attendees, with the help of STEM RTP. Many of our attendees have asked for more opportunities to get to know their fellow members, rather than just sitting down with their pizza. We hope this short engagement will help increase our community connection.

RSVPs are required (for the slice count) by registering for a free ticket to this event by Monday, February 24, at 2PM. (If you decide to come after this time, you're welcome to attend, but we might not have pizza for you.)

Thanks to a grant from the N.C. Biotechnology Center and funding from the RTP chapter of Sigma Xi and STEM RTP, Sigma Xi's Pizza Lunch speaker series is free and open to science journalists and science communicators of all stripes, as well as any interested member of the public. Feel free to extend this invitation to anyone who might want to attend.

The science talk may also be live streamed on Sigma Xi’s Facebook page, pending approval of the speaker. You can watch live or find the recording at www.facebook.com/SigmaXi/.

Did you miss some past pizza lunch talks? Check out our videos and podcasts of previous speakers: http://www.americanscientist.org/science/

Talks are co-organized with Science Communicators of North Carolina (SCONC). The RTP chapter of Sigma Xi is a co-organizer and co-sponsor, and encourages any interested scientists to get involved with the chapter and its upcoming events. We thank RTP HQ for providing space.

Please RSVP to this event using your own personal email (not a listserv email, etc.), which will be used solely to send reminders for the event. We will not keep your email unless you have requested to be added to the pizza lunch list (a button to be added is available on the registration page).

PLEASE RSVP ONLY ONCE. We've found that Eventbrite will let you sign up multiple times even if you have already RSVP'd.

If you wish to be removed from this list, please email lutkoski-at-sigmaxi-dot-org. This list is opt-in only, so you're receiving this message because you asked to be on this list. If you are a Sigma Xi member and need to update your location or contact information with Sigma Xi, please email membership-at-sigmaxi-dot-org.