New insights into #radiationprotection

How can I protect myself against UV radiation? What do hairdryers have to do with radiation protection? How is radioactivity measured? Radiation raises a variety of questions, and radiation protection concerns us all – and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) is therefore expanding its social media presence and launching an Instagram account.

"With the BfS's Instagram account, we want to utilise an additional social media channel to engage in direct communication with citizens of all age groups," says Inge Paulini, President of the BfS. Since 22 June, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection has been represented on Instagram under the handle @strahlenschutz_bfs.

Raising awareness of health issues and research

The BfS already uses Twitter and YouTube to provide information on radiation protection and radiation research, as well as communicating news and relevant dates. Particularly when it comes to topics relating to health and research, Instagram provides another way of delivering information in a clear form and engaging with the public.

"Radiation itself is invisible. However, a visual medium like Instagram can help to clarify how radiation protection relates to everyday life – whether it's UV protection, radon from the ground, electromobility, digitalisation, or radiation applications at a medical practice. We're also keen to engage more intensively with young people and to highlight the whole range of situations where radiation is encountered, where it's useful, and how people can protect themselves against the health effects of radiation," says Paulini.

Radiation protection and social media

The channel is also intended to offer direct insights into scientific work at the BfS's locations in Berlin, Neuherberg, Salzgitter, Freiburg, Rendsburg, Cottbus and Bonn and at Mt. Schauinsland. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection’s social media team is also active on Twitter under the handle @strahlenschutz.