BARC director to inaugurate CARER centre at MU

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 9, 2016: The first AERB-accredited laboratory in universities in India, according to a release will be opened by K. N. Vyas, Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai. He will dedicate the Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Radioactivity (CARER) on Mangalore University campus on June 10, tomorrow, Friday.

K.S. Pradeepkumar, Associate Director, HS&EG Group, BARC, will release an information booklet on CARER. The function is scheduled at 2.30 p.m.

The release said that industries from all over India were approaching CARER for testing of materials such as spices, packaged water, pharmaceuticals, food materials, etc. meant for export as well as for public consumption. Industries such as thermal power plants, mining, metal, etc. are using the facilities at the centre for testing their products for radioactivity.

Availability of testing facilities at CARER has immensely benefited the industries of the region, it said.  The release said that BRNS was encouraging institutions across the country to initiate research programmes on low-level radioactivity measurements regions.

Other funding agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology, University Grants Commission, Ministry of Earth Sciences, etc., have also been promoting research studies on radionuclides in the environment, and their applications as tracers, chronometer, etc.

The new groups, which recently initiated these studies, lack adequate infrastructure (both measuring systems and calibration facilities) and expertise.

In order to generate quality data, which can meet any stringent quality assurance programme, advanced equipment, calibration facility, and expertise are essential.

The CARER is helping researchers from other institutions of the country by extending the advanced facilities to them. During the last couple of years, users from other institutions have increased by manifold. Every effort is made to accommodate the requests of all the researchers from different parts of the country, the release said.