The 6th Meeting of the European Radiation Protection Associations was held yesterday at the Ruđer Bošković Institute. Organized by the Croatian Radiation Protection Association (CRPA), the RBI and the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Medicine the meeting gathered experts from the radiation protection associations in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Great Britain and the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA). The aim of this meeting was to enable participants to share their experiences and common problems as well as to facilitate discussions on future actions and plans in the area of radiation protection.

The Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Medicine in Zagreb today hosted a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the Croatian Radiation Protection Association (CRPA). On this occasion, Professor Božo Metzger was elected as the fist Honorary Member of the Society, and for the first time in the Society`s history the Best Paper Award in the field of Radiation Protection was presented to RBI scientist Martina Rožmarić Mačefat, PhD.

On the initiative by RBI Director General Danica Ramljak, DVM, PhD, and the Chief Executive Officer of Končar – Electrical Industries Inc. Darinko Bago, the Ruđer Bošković Institute and Končar - Electrical Industries Inc. held their first joint workshop today. The aim of this workshop was to define common research and development programs of special interest to the Republic of Croatia.

The second symposium on Innovation, Culture and Technology Development organized by the Croatian Systems Society (CROSS), the Business Innovation Center of Croatia (BICRO) and the Croatian Accreditation Agency is being held on 22 and 23 October in Zagreb.

BICRO INFO DAY held today at the Ruđer Bošković Institute was a perfect opportunity for the RBI scientist to learn more about the Business Innovation Centre of Croatia – BICRO and get closer insight into government support programs aimed at strengthening cooperation between science and industry. This event was organized under the auspices of the RBI Director General Ms. Danica Ramljak, DVM, PhD.

An intensive three-day ESF Exploratory Workshop How to Constrain the High Density Symmetry Energy started in Zagreb today. Organized by the Ruđer Bošković Institute in partnership with the European Science Foundation (ESF) the workshop gathered renowned US and European scientist to discuss the issues related to nuclear symmetry energy. RBI scientist Zvonimir Basrak, PhD, Head of the Laboratory for Nuclear Physics, is one of 59 European scientists to have gained ESF support in a fierce international competition of 337 proposals.

The RBI Director General Danica Ramljak will participate in the NATO conference: Challenges and Opportunities in Trans-Atlantic Defence Industrial Cooperation in 2009 to be held at NATO headquarters in Brussels on 15 - 16 October 2009. Issues on the agenda will include technology transfer, intellectual property, market access and investment policies in the context of an economic downturn and anticipated recovery. Organized by NATO's Defence Investment Division in partnership with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) of London, the conference will bring together National Armaments Directors as well as government and defence industry leaders from both sides of the Atlantic. During this conference the RBI Director will meet with the high NATO officials, defence ministers and senior representatives of government institutions of NATO member states to discuss the RBI capabilities for joint cooperation on NATO projects.

Peter R. Jackson, PhD, Chief of AIDS Research Review Branch (ARRB), Scientific Review Program, Division of Extramural Activities at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/NIH/DHHS held today a workshop on Strategies for Preparing and Submitting an NIH Grant Application.

The Ruđer Bošković Institute partnered once again with the Zagreb Observatory and the Croatian Astronomic Society to celebrate Galileo's night. On Thursday, 22 October 2009, our visitors will have the opportunity to take part in two interesting lectures on astronomy and astrophysics by the RBI scientist Tihomir Surić, PhD, and Mr. Marko Šimac. After these lectures the visitors will continue their astronomy adventure at the RBI basketball field where they will be able to observe the sky through the powerful telescopes and feel the thrill of discovery and wonder under dark Zagreb sky.

The Sixth Scientific Meeting of the Croatian Physical Society which was held in Primošten on 8 – 11 October 2009, gathered more than 250 scientists from the country and abroad, involved in physics research and applied physics. The four day meeting included interesting lectures and insightful poster presentations on key topics, as well as three round table discussions on: The Talent Drain - Where and Why do Women Flee from Physics, Financing of Science in Croatia and the EU projects in Croatia.