Efeitos da Radiação

Objectives

Students will acquire knowledge on the following topics: • Radiation Environments • Radiation-matter interactions • Radiation effects in materials and electronic devices • Principles of radiological protection • Radiobiology quantities and units • Interactions of ionising radiation with the living organism - direct and indirect effects • Deterministic and stochastic effects • DNA repair mechanism • Exposure biomarkers • Radiopathology • Biological dosimetry

Syllabus

i) Module 1 - Radiation Environments: space, nuclear installations, accelerators, natural radioactivity - Radiation-matter interactions: photons, ions, neutrons - Radiation effects in materials: changes in mechanical, structural, optical and electrical properties. - Radiation effects in electronic devices: ionisation, atomic displacements, “Single Event Effects”. Mitigation methods. ii) Module 2 - Principles of Radiological Protection - Radiobiology quantities and units. Mechanisms of DNA damage. Reactive Species. Chain breaks. Mutation induction. Antioxidant defence mechanisms. Adaptive response. By-stander effect. DNA repair mechanisms. - Radiopathology: Deleterious effects of ionizing radiation. Genetic changes. Cancerigenesis. Hereditary effects on reproduction and embryonic development. Non-carcinogenic effects. - Biological dosimetry.

Prerequisites

Undergraduate studies in the areas of Engineering, Life Sciences, Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, among others.

Cross Competence Component

The percentage of the final evaluation associated with the following transversal skills should be around 20%. Critical and innovative thinking: critical thinking and creativity. Presentation of the works and practical suggestions. Critical analysis of the obtained results. Intrapersonal skills: proactivity and initiative, intrinsic motivation. Interpersonal skills: written communication, teamwork, oral communication. How issues between members of the workgroups are solved. Information and media literacy: Use of information and multimedia tools from the user perspective, structuring and formatting of documents and presentations, information search and management. Global citizenship: social and civic responsibility, professional deontology, tolerance and openness. How acquired knowledge is passed on to others.

Laboratorial Component

A strong laboratory component will give students the possibility to acquire skills to assess the effects of ionising radiation on materials and electrical devices as well as the levels of damage induced in biological tissues using cytogenetic methods.

Programming And Computing Component

The laboratory work includes a component of data analysis and simulation.

Ethical Principles

All members of a group are responsible for the group's work. In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose and help received and sources used. In any oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.