ARPANSA appoints electromagnetic energy director

The Australian Radiation and Nuclear Protection Agency (ARPANSA) has announced that Dr Sarah Loughran is the inaugural director of ARPANSA’s activities under the federal government’s enhanced electromagnetic energy (EME) program.

Dr Loughran is a current member of the World Health Organisation Radio Frequency Environmental Health Criterion Evaluation Committee and is an elected member of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection's (ICNIRP) Scientific Expert Group.

Dr Loughran will lead the work outlined in ARPANSA’s EME Action Plan 2020-2024, which will contribute to the program “by helping build public confidence in the safety of telecommunications networks, address misinformation about EME emissions and continue robust scientific research in the EME field”, according to the ARPANSA announcement.

Prior to joining ARPANSA, Dr Loughran held positions as an Associate Professor for the University of Wollongong and Director of the Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research (ACEBR).

“Electromagnetic energy research and safety has shaped a large part of my professional and academic career, and I’m very excited to bring this expertise to ARPANSA,” Dr Loughran said.

“ARPANSA’s work under the broader EME program will ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of electromagnetic energy research, and will provide the Australian public with independent, safe and evidenced-based information,” Dr Loughran said.

“We’re very excited to have Dr Loughran on board and look forward to utilising her many years of experience and expertise to deliver on ARPANSA’s Vision for a safe radiation environment for the Australian community,” said Dr Gillian Hirth, ARPANSA’s Chief Radiation Health Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

Image courtesy ARPANSA.