PROCEEDING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SERIR 2013

This publication represents the official record of the International Conference on the Sources, Effects and Risks of
Ionizing Radiation held in Sanur, Bali, Indonesia, from 10 to 11 October 2013. This Conference was organized and
hosted by the Indonesian National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), in cooperation with the United Nations
Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), and supported by the Ministry of Research
and Technology (Kemenristek), Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN),
Indonesian Radiation Oncology Society (PORI), Indonesian Society of Radiology (PDSRI), and Indonesian Society of
Nuclear Medicine (PKNI).
The benefits and risks of any practice involving ionizing radiation, which is often shortened to just radiation, need
to be established so that an informed judgment can be made on their use, and any risks minimized. The discovery
of ionizing radiation and radioactive materials has led to advances in medical diagnosis and treatment, and they
are used for a wide range of procedures in industry, agriculture, and research. Nevertheless, they can be harmful
to living organisms, and they thus must be protected from unnecessary or excessive exposures.
The public, however, has a high sense of concern about radiation due to the accidents at nuclear power plants and
other facilities, as well as by the common tendency to associate any form of radiation with all things ‘nuclear’,
including nuclear weapons. The reasons for these concerns may be the lack of reliable and accessible information
from the authorities and the scientific communities, and the misunderstandings that arise.
With this issue in mind, and considering current trends and developments in the use of ionizing radiation
worldwide, the Conference aims to focus efforts in this area and to maximize the communication among the
stakeholders (authorities, scientific communities and the public) so as to balance the knowledge on the benefits
and risks of any practice involving ionizing radiation.
A number of about 200 participants attended this Conference, and consisted of researchers, hospital managers,
medical professionals, government officials, decision makers and observers of those issues related with the topics
of the Conference. Those participants came from both domestic and abroad.