The Berkeley RadWatch Project: Origins

The UC Berkeley Department of Nuclear Engineering has been performing a large range of radiation measurements since March 2011, following the releases of radioactive materials from the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. One of the goals of this activity was to measure the radioactivity in Californian samples that could potentially be associated with the releases in Japan using state-of-the-art experiments, to publish the data without filter or restriction, and to put the results in the context of the radiation we are exposed to in our daily lives.

In response to the resurgent interest in radiation levels due to the expected arrival of cesium at the North American west coast, we increased our efforts again in 2014-2016 to measure samples potentially affected by the Pacific Ocean current transport. In addition to measurement samples of fish, seaweed, crab, etc., we aided in the Kelp Watch initiative, which aimed at measuring a potential cesium uptake into kelp, which are of particular interest because they act as a sponge for many toxins.

Expansion of measurement capabilities

  1. We are now involving the more sensitive monitoring system of theĀ Berkeley Lab Low-Background Facility; to allow investigations of smaller samples such as Bay Area sediments, etc.
  2. We are expanding our sample collection to include a wider range of sample types and origins and to look beyond radiation at heavy metal concentrations using neutron activation to make such measurements using the same equipment and techniques as are employed for our other measurements.
  3. A continuous air monitoring station was installed on UC Berkeley campus in 2014 and we have provided, of-and-on, near real-time data from this system on our website, including weather data we are collecting at the same location. The goal of this effort is not only to provide the radiation levels to the broader public but to encourage simple science projects with the data.
  4. We have started a new initiative, DoseNet, building a growing network of environmental and radiation sensor systems across the Bay Area, US, and internationally which connects communities, educators, and researchers across the network.

We hope you will find our data and its interpretation useful. We will continue the monitoring and the publication of results across our different measurement systems to provide an on-going context for radiation and other potential exposure risks in our environment.

Check out our news coverage!

March 10, 2016

June 21, 2012

April 5, 2011

April 1, 2011

March 30, 2011

March 28, 2011

March 25, 2011

March 19, 2011

March 18, 2011

March 17, 2011

MEET OUR TEAM

Kai Vetter

Kai Vetter

Dr. Kai Vetter is a Professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley and Faculty Senior Scientist and Head of the Applied Nuclear Physics program at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He is director of the Institute for Resilient Communities that was established in 2015 to address the need to better integrate advancements in sciences and technologies with communities through education and outreach locally and globally. Prof. Vetter initiated and still leads the Berkeley Radwatch and DoseNet programs.

Ali Hanks

Ali Hanks

Ali Hanks is a Research Scientist and Lecturer in the Nuclear Engineering department at UC Berkeley. She works under Prof. Kai Vetter as a member of the radiation imaging group, mentoring graduate and undergraduate students in nuclear science research. Dr. Hanks operates as the day-to-day lead for the RadWatch and Dosenet teams and runs a summer internship program for high school students sponsored by this outreach program.

Chris Lamb

Chris Lamb

Chris is a PhD student primarily acting as a resource for other undergraduate researchers involved with DoseNet and RadWatch or helps with public education at outreach events .

Dani Solakian

Dani Solakian

Dani Solakian is an Undergrad Student Researcher working with the Dosenet/Radwatch team to educate, empower, and provide tools for the public to understand radiation and the environment surrounding them.

Benjamin Huang

Benjamin Huang

Ben graduated UC Berkeley with a bachelors in Nuclear Engineering and currently works as a junior researcher assisting undergraduate researchers, lab interns, and PhD students in their projects and endeavors.

Aditya Arunachalam

Aditya Arunachalam

Aditya is a rising sophomore at Basis Independent Fremont, working with seismic sensors and analyzing data taken from Dosenetā€™s sensors. Heā€™s interested in computer science, math, and physics, and in his free time, enjoys following basketball and baseball.

Kel Strathearn

Kel Strathearn

Kel is a sophomore at UC Berkeley majoring in Nuclear Engineering, with an intended minor in EECS. They are interested in how radiation interacts with natural ecosystems and computer science. Kel helps in the UI design of our portable sensors and data visualization.

Esther Luvishis

Esther Luvishis

Esther is a junior at Maria Carrillo High School. She is primarily focused on outreaching to local high schools including her own as well as helping out and learning about RadWatch's data analysis endeavors.

Gilder Montepeque

Gilder Montepeque

Gilder is a senior at UC Berkeley majoring in Nuclear Engineering. He is currently working on neutron activation analysis, software development, and outreach events. He bought a fridge from Ben lmao.

Kevin Wu

Kevin Wu

Kevin, a senior at Monta Vista High School, is currently working on an improved design for stationary DoseNet systems. He has previously worked on companion smartphone interfaces for portable DoseNet systems.

Dylan Odwyer

Dylan Odwyer

Hi, I am Dylan I am a fourth year undergraduate studying mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace engineering. I currently work on iterative designs for the sensors that RadWatch has.

Rex Riedel

Rex Riedel

Rex is a sophomore at Redwood High School, focused on outreach with RadWatch and the American Nuclear Society. In his free time, he swims and tinkers with radiation detectors.

William Chen

William Chen

William is a senior at The Quarry Lane School. He has developed software for mapping and data collection with portable DoseNet devices. Currently, he works on designs to integrate new sensors with DoseNet's systems.