Radiation Education Forum

What’s REF?

The Radiation Education Forum (REF) was set up on April 12, 1994, by volunteer researchers and teachers interested in radiation education and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, aiming to improve “radiation literacy” not only of pupils and students but also of the general public in Japan. At that time, Japanese students in Middle schools had not learned radiation in science classes because “teaching radiation” had been outside the frame of national curriculums since 1977, and then REF took the initiative in rebooting radiation education in school. REF’s continuous efforts were eventually acknowledged by Monkasho (The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology), and “radiation education” came back in the official curriculum in 2007 after 30 years of break, and Japanese students resumed their learning radiation in science classes in 2011.

Before the resumption of radiation education in school, REF organized a hundred or more seminars for teachers -called "Energy-Environment-Radiation Seminar" - for 9 years from 2001 to 2009 all over Japan, under the auspices of the Japanese Government. The seminar played a significant role in helping Middle and High school teachers understand the origin and nature of radiation as well as the risks and benefits of radiation.

To see and refer to the current state of radiation education in foreign countries, REF has organized the “International Symposium on Radiation Education (ISRE)” three times in Japan since 1998; for the proceedings (in English), see to the separate section of this site.

Activities

REF regularly publishes the “Newsletter” three times a year and the journal “Radiation Education” once a year. REF organizes seminars three times a year on topics associated with radiation and education. In addition, symposia and workshops are organized occasionally.

Membership

REF membership is open to all, regardless of nationality. The member has the following privileges:

• To receive the News Letter and the journal Radiation Education free of charge
• To attend seminars, symposia, and workshops organized by REF free of charge

If you need any further information, please contact the REF secretariat.

REF Secretariat

Dr. Ryuichi TANAKA Secretary General, Vice President

Man-ei Bld. 202, 6-7-2 Higashi-Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0015, Japan
Phone: +81-3-3843-1070
Fax: +81-3-3843-1080
Email: forum[At sign]ref.or.jp