RE: High School Health Physics

["Lavera, Ron" <Ron.Lavera@nypa.gov>]

As a Scoutmaster of a Boy Scout Troop, I would highly recommend that
anyone interested in doing some basic instruction on this type of
material, check out the Boy Scouts of America "Atomic Energy" Merit
Badge booklet.  These booklets are readily available and only cost about
$3.00 each.  They provide a little theory, some history and some key
figures.

In regards to the use of "un-calibrated" instruments, I would think that
as long as the instrument is clearly labeled as such, that this would
NOT be a problem.  I think that the public is smart enough to understand
that the voltmeter that you use in your house to check your wiring is
not maintained the same way as a voltmeter used to calibrate the
reactor.  It is true that a poorly performing instrument should be
removed from service for repair.  I think that this is would be an
inexpensive way for radiological facilities, such as power plants and
DOE facilities, that have integral electronic repair facilities, to
establish a trusting and knowledgeable relationship with the educational
establishments in the nation.  Let's face it, the educational system a
is source of much of the negative opinions associated with every thing
nuclear.  Anything that we can do to reduce negative opinions there pays
BIG dividends.  ( ounce of prevention thing ).

...  mine and mine alone  ...

Ron LaVera
lavera.r@nypa.gov

-----Original Message-----
From: LIPTONW@dteenergy.com [mailto:LIPTONW@dteenergy.com]
Sent: Friday, October 23, 1998 7:23 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: High School Health Physics


This seems to be a "1. ready, 2. fire, 3. aim" approach to things. 
 
Before we start, HPS members need to be informed as to why we're doing
this.
 
It seems to me that distributing uncalibrated instruments to untrained
persons 
with the endorsement of HPS is a good idea - NOT!  If I were an
anti-nuke
I'd 
be pushing for this, since it implies that nuclear facilities are
dangerous, 
and that you can't trust the licensees to monitor properly.  Also, if an

instrument is not maintained it is likely to short out and peg the
meter.  
This may generate public conern. 
 
I'd be grateful if someone who is involved with this could reply and
explain. 
 
The opinions expressed are strictly mine. 
It's not about dose, it's about trust. 
 
Bill Lipton 
liptonw@dteenergy.com 
 
 
You wrote: 
 
>Does anyone have instructions for simple source & geiger counter 
>experiments?  The HPS is distributing old Civil Defense GM's to high
school 
>science teachers.  They can detect a latern mantle quite well.  We'd
like 
>to include a sheet on experiments, resources, etc.  
 
>=-=-=Joel Cehn, jcehn@worldnet.att.net
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