RADSAFE, literacy, etc.

[Lester Slaback <Lester.Slaback@NIST.GOV>]

I do not intend to start another thread which will bug the multitude of
uninterested RADSAFErs, BUT...
A certain level of scientific competency is presumed of folks who
participate in a forum like RADSAFE.  While the presumption that there is
no stupid question is a given, taken to the extreme it would destroy this,
or any other, forum.  RADSAFE certainly can serve as a starting point
resource, i.e., as a plea for help, for those who do not have an extensive
background in the radiological area but hopefully responses would be taken
off-line by the expert RADSAFE responder given the presumed indifference of
the rest of the community to this level of discussion.

Simple dimensional conversions that do not involve any Quantity
translations, e.g., feet to meters, dps to Ci, Ci to Bq, would seem to be
part of the presumed literacy to participate in RADSAFE (at least for the
vast majority - the forum can survive a few special cases).  As such (if I
can say so as mildly as possible so as not to stir up lots of replies) I
have to agree with Ms. Case, a Ci to Bq conversion program is a clear case
of technological excess, as were the specialized calculators to convert
feet to meters, oz to lbs, oz to grams, milliliters to liters, etc.  But it
is also obvious from the previous messages that opinions vary as to the
point of technical trivialness.  Perhaps someone can generate a trivialness
scale to obtain a consensus assessment.  :-)

As a counter example the series of messages on DoT packaging is a great
example of learning from RADSAFE, at least for those involved in that
aspect of HP.
Disclaimer:  the above are the personal musings of the author, and do not
represent any past, present, or future position of NIST, the U.S. government,
or anyone else who might think that they are in a position of authority. 
Lester Slaback, Jr.  [Lester.Slaback@NIST.GOV] 
NBSR Health Physics 
Center for Neutron Research 
NIST
100 Bureau Dr.  STOP 3543 
Gaithersburg, MD  20899-3543 
301 975-5810 voice
301 921-9847 fax
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