Unit details

PHYS5402 Radiation Biology and Protection

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 2	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Content

This unit introduces students to the basic concepts and principles of radiation biology and protection, including the biological effects of radiation, sources of radiation, treatment effects, treatment strategies, risks, exposure and protection methods. An understanding of the national and state legislative requirements with respect to radiation is also developed.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) understand basic concepts and principles of radiation biology and radiation protection; (2) use appropriate units to quantify radiation exposure; (3) understand sources of radiation and health effects of ionising radiation; (4) understand basic genetic and epidemiological aspects of radiation exposure; (5) describe the principles underlying risk reduction and procedures to minimise risk of radiation exposure; (6) describe approaches for monitoring of staff and work areas; (7) be familiar with legislation regarding radiation protection and safety; (8) discuss biological effects of radiation in the context of radiation therapy; and (9) understand basic concepts and principles of radiation therapy.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) assignments; (2) tutorial preparation and participation; and (3) final examination. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the final examination component.

For units commencing in May 2022 or later the availability of the supplementary assessment is subject to confirmation.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Except where supplementary assessment is not available in a unit, it will be offered to students in all units who:

• Are in good academic standing overall;
• Have passed over half the units taken in the teaching period concerned, except where they are only enrolled in two or less units in the period;
• Have submitted all assessment items in the unit;
• Have achieved a mark between 45 and 49 for the unit overall, or the same mark in any failed component item in the unit; and
• No finding of academic misconduct has been made against them in the unit concerned.

Additionally student may apply for supplementary assessment in any unit which is the final unit required for graduation in there course and where they have achieved a mark between 45 and 49 for the unit overall, or the same mark in any failed component item in the unit.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Pejman Rowshan Farzad

Unit rules

Prerequisites:

Enrolment in in the ( CM015 Bachelor of Science [Frontier Physics] and Master of Physics or 53560 Master of Physics ) and Enrolment (other than course) in the SP-MEDPH Medical Physics specialisation and completion of the core units in the Physics major or equivalent

Co-requisites:

Nil

Advisable prior study:

ANHB5451 Anatomy and Biology for Medical Physicists

Incompatibility:

Nil

Contact hours

2 - 3 hours per week plus an extra hour of practicals in some weeks

Texts

Hall, E. Radiobiology for the Radiologist, 7th edn: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2012

Cember, H. Introduction to Health Physics, 5th Edition, A & L Allied Health, 2017

Joiner, Michael . Basic Clinical Radiobiology, 4th edn, London : CRC Press; 2009

ICRP Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiation Protection: Pergamon Press Oxford 1990

Khan, F. The Physics of Radiation Therapy, 5th edn: Williams and Wilkins 2014