Metrology, Standards, and Mission: Synopsis of the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards (CIRMS)

The Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards (CIRMS) is an independent, non-profit council composed of experts from academia, government, and industry across all areas of ionizing radiation science and technology, providing leadership, focus, and coordinated action on emerging radiation metrology needs. This mission is achieved through the organization of an annual scientific conference and the periodic publication of a Needs Report which identifies priority areas in ionizing radiation measurements and standards. This article summarizes the outcomes from the CIRMS 2026 meeting which was held 13-15 April 2026 at The Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland, United States. Participants represented a broad cross-section of the radiation science community, including radiation metrologists, academic researchers, government scientists, and industry stakeholders. The meeting featured plenary presentations, topical breakouts, and poster sessions. The breakout sessions were organized by the three subcommittees of the CIRMS Science and Technology Committee: Medical Applications, Radiation Protection and Homeland Security, and Radiation Processing and Material Effects. Topics covered during the meeting included cobalt-60 (60Co) and cesium-137 (137Cs) production, medical device sterilization, FLASH radiotherapy dosimetry, neutron dosimetry, radiation standards for next-generation fusion power systems, Monte Carlo modeling, and other topics relevant to radiation measurements and standards. The CIRMS 2026 meeting highlighted challenges that must be addressed to advance ionizing radiation science and technology and provide important input for the next Needs Report.