Volume 5, Number 1
March 2007

Mark Your Calendar for
PATRAM 2007
Oct. 21-26
Miami, Fla., USA

PATRAM 2007 convenes at the Marriott Doral Golf Report and Spa in Miami, Fla. The PATRAM conference is the premiere international conference dedicated to packaging and transport of radioactive materials. It is held every three years, alternating between a site in the United States and sites outside the United States.

U.S. federal agency sponsors for PATRAM 2007 are the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Department of Transportation. INMM serves as the technical host for PATRAM, providing overall conference planning and operational support to the sponsoring federal agencies. Having these three agencies sponsor the conference brings a broad perspective of the important issues the conference will highlight.

Industry experts from around the world and across a broad spectrum of disciplines will present papers that are timely and pertinent to packaging and transportation of radioactive materials. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to learn about current issues associated with technical design, analysis, and testing of RAM packagings; regulatory concerns, institutional considerations, operational practices, and safeguards and security activities.

In addition to oral paper and poster presentations, the PATRAM Planning Committee is developing a strong plenary schedule that will feature speakers that are leaders in this field and that will provide insight into current issues that are of interest to us all. We are also developing special sessions that will address specific current issues using a panel of experts to lead the discussions.

Abstracts are currently being solicited through the INMM PATRAM Web site. The official closing date for abstract consideration was Feb. 9, 2007. However, the PATRAM Paper Selection Committee are considering abstracts that were submitted through the month of February.

In addition to the abstract submittals, the PATRAM Web site also provides access for private industry to sign up for exhibitor space and sponsorships. The PATRAM Planning Committee is working hard to highlight private industry involvement at this conference and encourages active participation of private industry through paper presentations, exhibits, and sponsorships.