The Strategy for Allied Radioecology (STAR) is a four and a half year Network of Excellence (NoE) funded by the EC. STAR was launched in February 2011 and aims to facilitate the long-term sustainable integration of European radioecological research. The recent renaissance of interest in nuclear power, the Fukushima accident, the application of nuclear techniques in research and industry, radionuclides released from the non-nuclear industries and the scientific challenges related to the whole nuclear fuel cycle, from mining to waste management, all require increased radioecological competence and support from further research. STAR will address a wide spectrum of issues in radioecology, including cutting-edge multidisciplinary research concerned with the environmental transport, fate, and effects of radioactive contaminants on humans and wildlife, access to shared infrastructures and equipment, and education and training courses to recruit young scientists to the discipline. With the help of the larger radioecology community, STAR will develop a Strategic Research Agenda and encourage worldwide collaboration on several focused lines of research.
As part of the STAR Mobility, Training and Education work package (WP6) two stakeholder workshops were held (Helsinki, May 2011 and Oslo, November 2011) to give insight into the recruitment needs within radioecology. A vibrant engaging program for long-term training and education within the nuclear and environmental sciences is required not only in order to have a sustainable nuclear energy program, but also for the assessment of possible impacts of any anthropogenic or naturally-occurring sources of ionising radiation. The ultimate goal of STAR’s educational components is to meet the demand for both worker training and student education in an integrated and sustainable way. Such needs are particularly acute in the field of radioecology, as it has been recognized that formal training and education are fragmented, often inadequate, and that mobility is an essential means to support competence sharing. WP6 aims to strengthen and secure a sustainable integrated European training and education platform in radioecology that will attract top-level graduates and maintain a relevant workforce that is in a position to meet future economic and societal needs within nuclear and environmental sciences. WP6 is also responsible for the exchange visits between partners; training courses; MSc, PhD and post-doc programmes
