Science Contest

Radioactivity is everywhere, but we cannot perceive it with our senses. So how can we measure radioactivity? How can we protect ourselves from the harmful effects of radioactivity? What are the challenges of today and tomorrow?

These are some of the challenges where radiation protection comes in. The Belgian Society for Radiation Protection (BVS-ABR) is the scientific organisation dedicated to that field.  It has been doing so for 60 years! To celebrate this anniversary, the BVS-ABR is organising a competition in which 5th and 6th year secondary school pupils can participate.

Objective

During the competition, pupils will work out a scientific project that will be assessed by a professional jury. This way, they are introduced to the different disciplines related to radiation protection, such as physics, biology, mathematics, geology, social sciences, ... In addition, the competition stimulates team skills, creativity and critical scientific thinking of students.

Challenge

• Create a team of maximum 6 pupils from the third degree of secondary education within the same school in Belgium.
• Ensure the involvement of at least accompanying 1 teacher.
• Register before 30 September via the webform
• Together with your teacher, think of a current research question in radiation protection, and get to work to find a solution that is scientifically based.
  Examples of challenges include:

• What would the ideal space base on the moon look like, protecting astronauts from cosmic radiation?
• How can we efficiently fight a tumor in a patient, minimising damage to healthy tissue and avoiding risks to hospital staff
• In medical imaging, how to ensure a radiation dose as low as reasonably possible for the patient and hospital staff?
• How to safely decommission a nuclear power plant, paying attention to the protection of workers, the public and the environment?
• How to make nuclear energy safer, with attention to the protection of workers, the public and the environment?
• How to protect the population and the environment from an unexpected major release of radioactive material into the environment?
• How can you encourage the population to take action in their homes to reduce radon risk?

• Do you have your own good idea of a challenge in radiation protection? Submit it with your registration. With your team, you can call upon an expert in radiation protection provided by our society to guide you throughout the competition.
• Document the solution and the process how your team reached it (on paper, via illustrations and/or video), and send it to radioact60y@bvsabr.be by 8 November 2023 at the latest.

Final

During the final on 17 November 2023, a selected number of teams creatively present their project and solution in front of a jury of experts. The public event will be organised by BVS-ABR in Brussels (Académie Royale de Belgique, Hertogstraat 1, Brussels). During the subsequent award ceremony, the three winning teams will receive their prizes.

Prizes

Tickets for the science expo in Tabloo

Budget for educational material for the classroom

Important dates

June 2023: general call to schools, entries open

18 September 2023 Online kickoff event

30 September 2023: end of applications, final research question to be submitted

October: elaboration of project with BVS-ABR mentor

8 November 2023 12:00: project submission

17 November 2023: public event with presentation of results and award ceremony.

Cost

Participation in this competition is free of charge.

The participation of the selected teams to the event on November 17 is free of charge, including catering. The Society will reimburse the transport costs made by the team.

Registration

Registration is possible from 19 June via the webform. When registering, the domain (and possibly the research question) should already be provided. The final research question must be submitted by 30 September. A coach from BVS-ABR will be assigned to your team in the first week of October.

About BVS-ABR

The Belgian Society for Radiation Protection (BVS-ABR) a scientific association, focusing on protection against the potential dangers of ionising radiation. It has about 400 members from professionals in radiation protection spread across various sectors such as medical, nuclear, industry, transport, government and research institutes. The Association is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and organising various activities, including this competition.

Download the above information in PDF format.

Call to the members of BVS-ABR.