IEEE NPSS Prague EduCom International Summer School (PEISS) 2025

30 Jun 2025, 08:00 → 11 Jul 2025, 18:00 Europe/Prague

Conference centre (Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, CTU in Prague)

Martin Grossmann PSI (Paul Scherrer Institut)

We have the pleasure to announce the IEEE NPSS Prague EduCom International Summer School (PEISS) 2025 that will be held at the Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic from June 30th to July 11th, 2025.

It will draw on our extensive experience from past IEEE NPSS instrumentation schools held in Japan (2014), Vietnam (2016), South Africa (2018), Malaysia (2019), Senegal (2022) and Morocco (2024). These summer schools aim to familiarize students with real-world applications, their specificities, and constraints.

The proposed activity aligns with the NPSS Mission Statement: “To provide opportunities for scientific exchange and career development and to promote a diverse and inclusive community of nuclear and plasma scientists and engineers.” With its high-quality course program delivered by experienced lecturers, it will contribute to the education of students (both undergraduate and postgraduate) and the training of young researchers in the field of nuclear instrumentation and radiation measurement. Participants will also benefit from the Summer School by developing or expanding their professional network, particularly through encouragement to become active NPSS members.

This edition of the IEEE NPSS Summer School will run for eight full days of intensive learning, covering key topics related to nuclear radiation instrumentation, measurements, data analysis, statistics, AI, and their applications in fundamental sciences and nuclear medical sciences. Additionally, one full day is dedicated to a scientific excursion, and another one to cultural and touristic visits.

The main objectives of the school are:

• To train students in the field of radiation detectors and their applications.
• To support the development of nuclear sciences in Central European countries.
• To promote the participation of young scientists and local mentors in radiation measurements and related fields.
• To provide students with hands-on experience in various measurements and offer them the opportunity to present their results.

The number of students is limited to 32. Registration is open on the school website, where applicants must complete a form before the final selection. The school is open to all university students and students from engineering schools (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, and Medical Physics programs).

For accepted students the participation in the school is free.

PEISS2025_poster_final_QR.pdf

Monday 30 June

08:00 → 09:00 Registration

09:00 → 09:15 Welcome & Introduction

09:15 → 10:00 Program Introduction

10:00 → 11:00 Lectures

10:00 Interaction of Radiation With Matter

ABSTRACT:

This presentation deals with fundamental properties of the most important particles of ionizing radiation with are produced within the processes of radioactive decays, nuclear reactions and acceleration of charged particles. Interactions in high-energy physics are not included. Apart of general aspects and effects of ionizing radiation, the presentation is focused in more detail on interaction of heavy charged particles and their energy losses in matter, interaction of electrons and production of bremsstrahlung, interaction of photons with matter including their wave properties in low-energy region, and interaction of thermal and fast neutrons.

BIO:
Tomas Trojek is a professor of Applied Physics and the head of the Department of Dosimetry and Application of Ionizing Radiation at the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU). He graduated in Nuclear Engineering in 2001 and defended his PhD thesis five years later at the CTU. A part of his PhD thesis was done at the ISIB in Brussels and at the UPV in Valencia. He has worked in the Laboratory of X-ray spectrometry at the CTU since 2001, where he was initially engaged with X-ray fluorescence analysis of art and archaeological objects. He took part in the experiment DIRAC in the CERN laboratory in Switzerland. He is the Secretary of the International Radiation Physics Society.

Speaker: Tomáš Trojek (FNSPE CTU in Prague)

11:00 → 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 → 12:30 Lectures

11:30 Measuring picoseconds and GHz

CV/Bio: Dr. Stefan Ritt is a research scientist and the head of the Muon Physics Group at PSI in Switzerland. He invented the MIDAS data acquisition software, the DRS4 fast waveform digitizing chip and the Elog electronic logbook. He is currently Co-spokesperson of the Mu3e experiment searching for New Physics. Dr. Ritt is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and recipient of the 2020 IEEE Emilio Gatti Radiation Instrumentation Technical Achievement Award.

Abstract: Particle and Nuclear Physics uses all kinds of detectors to measure properties auch as energy and time of elementary particles. All detectors produce electrical signals, which need to be amplified, digitized and recorded by special electronics and computers. Modern experiments pose very high demands on these systems in accuracy such as time resolutions down to a few Picoseconds as well as the amount of produced data reaching may GBytes per seconds. This talk gives an introduction to basic digitization techniques, signal processing, triggering, bus standards and data acquisition software.

Speaker: Stefan Ritt (Paul Scherrer Institut (Switzerland))

12:30 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 17:30 Exercises

Tuesday 1 July

09:00 → 11:00 Lectures

09:00 Introduction to particle classification and trajectory reconstruction with Timepix-type detectors

Content:
In high energy physics experiments, hybrid pixel detectors are an integral part of the tracking systems closest to the interaction points, where their good spatial resolution and high radiation resilience allow for particle tracking by connection of “dots” registered in different layers of an onion-like detector. Within the Medipix Collaborations, a novel, complimentary approach to particle detection has been proposed relying on analysis of imprints seen in the pixel matrix (tracks). These exhibit a rich set of features which can be exploited for the identification of impinging particles, precise particle trajectory or reaction kinematics reconstruction. I will describe how this capability is utilized within LHC experiments, in compact radiation monitors used in space science, and discuss how this enables fundamental-science-reach measurements with simple table-top experiments.

Bio:
So far, I have dedicated most of my professional career to improving the understanding of the interaction of ionizing radiation in matter and advancing pixelated radiation detectors for radiation dosimetry. My current research is focused on high-energy physics, accelerator and the space radiation environments. Given the harsh mixed radiation environment in these fields, during my research, I had to acquire an understanding of processes leading to radiation-induced failures of electronics, total ionizing and non-ionizing dose effects on the degradation of semiconductor sensors, and possible mitigation strategies.

Within my scientific career, I have contributed to a better understanding of fundamental physics processes. For example, I have designed simple table-top experiments to study half-life times and particle emission probabilities in radioactive decays with a yet unprecedented accuracy. In a neutron time-of-flight measurement, performed at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, I have studied the competition of non-ionizing (NIEL) vs ionizing energy losses (IEL) in silicon, crucial not only for understanding of sensor degradation, but also for proper SEE prediction.
Analyzing and interpreting SATRAM (Space Application of Timepix Radiation Monitor) data, I became familiar with the radiation environment in LEO. The successful operation of this instrument and the competitiveness of the obtained results became the foundation for further development of Space radiation environment monitors using later generations of the Timepix technology. I have been involved as key personnel in several ESA projects and was the co-proposer of a ground-breaking instrument using the magnetic spectrometer principle, the Penetrating Particle Analyzer (PAN), dedicated to an in-situ measurement of galactic cosmic ray properties.

I have given invited talks at international conferences, as well as seminars and lectures at international summer schools. Amongst others, within CERN’s EP seminar series (2024), at the School on Space Qualification (2024), the conference Advances in Space Astroparticle Physics (2023), the IEEE real-time conference (2022) or the International Workshop of Radiation Imaging Detectors (2022).

I am currently also a member of the Evaluation Panel P203 (Nuclear and Particle Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics) of the Czech Science Foundation.

Speaker: Benedikt Ludwig Bergmann (Czech Technical University in Prague (CZ))

10:00 Advances in high-resolution X-ray radiography and CT

ABSTRACT

X-ray CT is widely recognized as a modern diagnostic tool in clinical practice. However, the potential of advanced X-ray imaging techniques extends far beyond medicine. Micro-CT – 3D radiographic imaging method capable of achieving micrometer-level resolution – provides valuable results in a broad spectrum of scientific and industrial fields. This lecture introduces the fundamental principles of high-resolution X-ray imaging, presents the state-of-the-art technologies, and demonstrates a variety of micro-CT applications in contemporary research.

BIO
Dr. Jan Dudák is a physicist at the Czech Technical University in Prague. His research is focused on the development and applications of advanced X-ray imaging techniques, particularly X-ray micro-CT using photon-counting detectors. His work spans a wide range of interdisciplinary applications, like biomedical imaging, cultural heritage, materials science, paleontology and non-destructive testing. He is actively involved in international collaborations and has contributed to numerous scientific publications and conferences, advancing the limits of micro-CT technology and its practical applications.

Speaker: Jan Dudak (IEAP CTU in Prague)

11:00 → 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 → 12:30 Lectures

11:30 Modern Engineering and AI

CV/Bio: Dr. Stefan Ritt is a research scientist and the head of the Muon Physics Group at PSI in Switzerland. He invented the MIDAS data acquisition software, the DRS4 fast waveform digitizing chip and the Elog electronic logbook. He is currently Co-spokesperson of the Mu3e experiment searching for New Physics. Dr. Ritt is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and recipient of the 2020 IEEE Emilio Gatti Radiation Instrumentation Technical Achievement Award.

Abstract: This lecture will introduce the usage of Large Language Models to analyze data from our lab courses with Python and Jupyter notebook. It covers basic calibration, fitting and the generation of plots. The knowledge from this lecture will be required to in the time-of-flight lab. In the second part of the lecture, I will show how to do CAD design and 3D printing in lab set-ups in particle physics again with the help of AI.

Speaker: Stefan Ritt (Paul Scherrer Institut (Switzerland))

12:30 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 17:30 Exercises

Wednesday 2 July

09:00 → 11:00 Lectures

09:00 Gaseous Detectors

Speaker: Maxim Titov (CEA Saclay)

10:00 A Basic Introduction to Scintillating Detectors

Abstract

The detection of ionizing particles or radiation using scintillation light produced in certain materials belongs to one of the oldest techniques in the field of radiation detection. Despite its long history, this technique remains one of the most versatile and widely used methods for detecting and performing spectroscopy on a broad range of radiations, from alpha particles to gamma rays.

This lecture will provide a general introduction to scintillating detectors, covering the fundamental physical principles that underpin their operation. We will explore the key properties that make scintillators effective, such as their light yield, decay time, and spectral emission characteristics. Various types of scintillators will be discussed, including organic and inorganic scintillators, highlighting their specific advantages and typical applications.

BIO

Rastislav Hodak is an experimental physicist focusing on neutrino physics. He leads the group “Neutrino & Underground Laboratory LSM” at the Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague.

His research is currently connected with double beta decay experiments, the aim of which is to determine neutrino properties (nature, mass, etc.). He contributes to the development and integration of new technologies for underground experiments that require an extremely low radioactive background. He is also involved in the R&D of various organic scintillators, working closely with an industrial partner – NUVIA a.s.

Speaker: Rastislav Hodak (IEAP CTU in Prague (CZ))

11:00 → 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 → 12:30 Lectures

11:30 Medical Imaging: PET

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging constitutes the molecular imaging technique of excellence and is used to evaluate a radio-tracer uptake by an organ or lesion. PET imaging is used in both the clinical (humans) and preclinical (small animal) fields.

In this talk, we will review the mechanical aspects (size, geometry, electronics…) to be considered and main performance parameters in terms of 3D Spatial, Energy and Temporal resolution in clinical and preclinical PET systems. Moreover, a revision of the state-of-the-art PET technology and future trends is provided.

Speaker: Andrea Gonzalez-Montoro

12:30 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 17:30 Exercises

Thursday 3 July

09:00 → 11:00 Lectures

09:00 What´s next in Particle Physics?

Speaker: Maxim Titov (CEA Saclay)

10:00 Accelerators for the Present and Future of Particle Physics

Speaker: Maxim Titov (CEA Saclay)

11:00 → 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 → 12:30 Lectures

11:30 Radiation detectors: Imaging what you cannot see

Abstract:

In an age where technological advancements push the boundaries of what we can observe and measure, silicon radiation detectors stand at the forefront of innovation, enabling us to image the invisible. This talk explores the world of silicon radiation detection technology. It will briefly review the fundamental principles behind silicon radiation detectors, their design, their key role in fundamental discoveries, and their diverse applications across various fields. From medical and biological imaging that revolutionizes diagnostic capabilities to fundamental scientific research that unravels the mysteries of the universe to harvesting sustainable energy using the power of the sun, silicon radiation detectors are indispensable tools in modern science and technology.

BIO:
Cinzia Da Vià is a Professor of Physics at the University of Manchester UK, and currently a visiting Professor at Stony Brook University USA. She is an expert in innovative radiation detectors for HighEnergy Physics, Medical applications and on Quantum Imaging with X-Rays. She is in the scientific committee of several international conferences on Radiation Detectors and Instrumentation and a senior member of IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Society (NPSS). She was the Nuclear Science Symposium (NSS) Chair in 2019. Member of the IEEE Women in Engineering. She is also the co-chair of the EUATTRACT initiative, member of the European Physical Society Technical Innovation Group and the leader of the Nuclear and Plasma Science Society Initiative on Climate Change. She is the chief editor of Frontiers in Physics Radiation Detection and Imaging Journal.

Speaker: Cinzia Da Via (The University of Manchester (GB))

12:30 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 17:30 Exercises

17:30 → 18:30 Women in Engineering

18:30 → 20:00 Reception

Friday 4 July

09:00 → 16:00 Scientific excursion - Řež

Saturday 5 July

09:00 → 16:00 Cultural and Touristic visit - Český ráj

Sunday 6 July

09:00 → 19:00 Free day

Monday 7 July

09:00 → 11:00 Lectures

09:00 Photodetectors and Photon Counting

Speaker: Masaharu Nomachi (Osaka University, Japan)

10:00 Introduction to GATE Exercise

ABSTRACT

This hands-on exercise offers participants a comprehensive introduction to the workflow involved in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. Attendees will engage with the GATE/GEANT4 simulation framework to model the physical processes of PET systems. Following the simulation phase, participants will transition to python for practical applications, focusing on the reconstruction of images from simulation data.
By the end of this exercise, participants will have a solid understanding of the fundamental principles of PET imaging and the importance of simulation in this field. They will gain hands-on experience in creating and executing simulations using GATE/GEANT4, as well as applying image reconstruction algorithms in python. This exercise aims to blend theoretical knowledge with practical application, enriching participants' understanding of PET imaging technology.

BIO
Full name: Hoang Thi Kieu Trang (Trang HOANG)
Institution:
University of Science, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City
Physics Faculty,
Department of Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Engineering and Medical Physics
Address: 227 Nguyen Van Cu St, Dist. 5, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam
Cell phone: (+84) 092 920 8090
Email: htktrang@hcmus.edu.vn

Dr. Hoang Thi Kieu Trang is a faculty member at the University of Science, part of Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM). She completed her Ph.D. in Experimental High Energy Physics at Florida State University, where she worked with the D0 collaboration at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. Dr. Trang is an experienced professional with numerous years in Monte Carlo simulation, digital signal processing, medical image processing and artificial neural networks. She is also a dedicated educator in the field of nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and medical physics, sharing her expertise with students and contributing to advancements in healthcare technology.
June 05, 2025

Speaker: Trang Hoang (University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

11:00 → 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 → 12:30 Lectures

11:30 Data Analysis and AI

ABSTRACT
The lecture is devoted to the role of modern artificial intelligence (AI) methods in data analysis in the field of high-energy physics, astrophysics and particle physics. In these areas of scientific research, there is a rapid growth in the volume of data coming from particle detectors, telescopes and other complex measurement systems. Traditional methods of statistical analysis are becoming less sufficient for the effective processing and interpretation of such volumes and complexity of information, which makes AI methods - in particular machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) - an integral part of modern scientific methodology.
The lecture will provide an overview of the current state of AI applications in physics. Key cases will be considered, such as event classification in experiments at the Large Hadron Collider, signal extraction against noise in neutrino observatories, as well as pattern recognition in large arrays of astrophysical data. Special attention will be paid to neural network architectures that have already found application in physics, such as convolutional neural networks (CNN), recurrent networks (RNN), graph neural networks (GNN) and transformers. Current trends will also be covered: the implementation of AI in real time when entering data, explainable AI in tasks requiring physical interpretation, as well as methods for combating systematic errors and bias in model training. The lecture will conclude with an overview of the prospects and future challenges of using AI in high-energy physics.

BIO
Dr. Yury Shitov is a senior researcher at the Institute of Technical and Experimental Physics of the Czech Technical University (IEAP ČVUT, Prague), a specialist in neutrino physics, nuclear physics and elementary particle physics. He participates in a number of international experiments, including KM3NeT, DANSS, LEGEND, SuperNEMO and TGV. For over 30 years, he has been engaged in numerical modeling, statistical analysis and software development for processing and interpreting experimental data, including on distributed computing infrastructures.
In the last 5 years, he has paid special attention to the application of artificial intelligence methods in scientific research. In the KM3NeT experiment, he is developing AI tracking algorithms, creating a "super expert" - an intelligent system for supporting analysis and code development. He also gives theoretical and practical lectures on the use of AI in data analysis for students majoring in economics.
Author of over 120 scientific publications, Hirsch index - 25 (Scopus @ 09/06/2025).

Speaker: Yury Shitov (IEAP CVUT in Prague, Czechia)

12:30 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 17:30 Exercises

Tuesday 8 July

09:00 → 11:00 Lectures

09:00 Introduction to Medical Imaging – X-rays, CT, MRI

ABSTRACT
Medical imaging is the technique and process of creating visual representations of the: interior of a body for clinical analysis and medical intervention and, of the function of some organs or tissues (physiology). Medical imaging is often perceived to designate the set of techniques that non-invasively produce images of the internal aspect of the body.
In this talk we will review the different imaging modalities while providing a brief history of their development and key technical aspects.

BIO
Andrea Gonzalez-Montoro, phD in Physics, was born in Valencia (Spain) in 1992. During her 10-year academic career, she has been working on the study and improvement of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) instrumentation. She has contributed to various well recognized items in the imaging research area, but especially in PET detector development and their assembling into fully-operating systems.
From 2014 to February 2019, she carried out her master and phD studies at the Institute for Instrumentation in Molecular Imaging (i3M) in Valencia, where she was involved in building dedicated PET scanners. She got her phD diploma in December 2018 with Cum Laude and international distinction.
In March 2019, she joined the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford University as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow where her research focused on the study of TOF-PET detector blocks. In January 2023 she got a Ramón y Cajal postdoctoral position at the Spanish Research council (CSIC) and came back to i3M, where she is involved in the development of trimodal PET inserts and on the design of a detector block for total-body PET scanners. More recently, she got an ERC starting grant for the development of PHOENIX, the first pediatric PET scanner based on BGO scintillators.
Also, she is deeply involved with educational activities, she joined (as organizer and lecturer) the IEEE NPSS EduCom and the WIE community in 2024. She belongs to the NMISC council and, is co-founder and president of the association Women of Science together with the Foundation Spanish Royal Academy of Science.

Speaker: Andrea Gonzalez-Montoro

10:00 The NPSS Booklet about Radiation Facts

Speaker: Patrick Le Dû (CEA, France)

11:00 → 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 → 12:30 Lectures

11:30 Proton Therapy

The use of proton beams for radiotherapy has been proposed in the 1940s and patients have been treated with this modality since the 1960s. With the advent of more powerful computers for therapy planning and fast electronics for sophisticated controls in the 1990s it became possible to even better exploit the therapeutic advantage of protons by employing magnetic pencil beam scanning. While pioneering work was carried out in physics research laboratories therapy facilities have now become commercially available by a number of vendors. Technology-driven research is ongoing to further improve the quality of protontherapy and make it available to a larger number of patients.

The talk will give an overview of the development of protontherapy and illustrate how therapeutic innovations have been driven by technological progress. Current research topics like ultra-high dose rate beam delivery (“FLASH”) and approaches to compensate the effect of organ motion will be presented.

Bio: Martin Grossmann has worked in High Energy Physics at CERN and in Muon Physics at PSI before joining the Center for Protontherapy CPT there in 1995. He programmed the therapy control system for the world’s first pencil beam scanning gantry which started clinical operations in 1996. For many years he lead the IT & Electronics group at CPT and was in charge of control and safety systems for several PSI built treatment rooms. He is now Senior Technical Advisor at CPT.

Speaker: Martin Grossmann (Paul Scherrer Institut, CH)

12:30 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 17:30 Exercises

Wednesday 9 July

09:00 → 11:00 Lectures

09:00 Basic Applications of Scintillators in Fundamental Research - Neutrino Physics

Abstract

Scintillators are indispensable tools in fundamental research, particularly in neutrino physics. Neutrinos are the most mysterious of the known particles playing an important role from the birth of the Universe until nowadays. Numerous unanswered questions about neutrinos necessitate both theoretical exploration and experimental investigation. Experimental neutrino physics focuses on measuring key properties of neutrinos, such as their absolute mass scale, their nature (whether they are Majorana or Dirac particles), and the violation of lepton number, each with profound implications for understanding cosmic evolution and their relationships with other elementary particles. The search for neutrinoless double beta decay (DBD) is a key approach to address aforementioned fundamental questions.

The prime candidate for the experimental study rare DBD processes is the SuperNEMO experiment. The approach is based on the so-called “tracker-calorimeter” method where not only the energy spectrum (crucial to distinguish neutrinoless DBD from two-neutrino DBD) is measured, but also the outgoing particles’ trajectories are reconstructed. This method offers significant advantages, including substantial reduction of radioactive background and the capability to investigate multiple DBD sources. The SuperNEMO demonstrator is located in the Modane Underground Laboratory (Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane - LSM), at the French-Italian border in the middle of the Fréjus highway tunnel.

This lecture will provide an overview of the fundamental applications of scintillators in this field, along with an introduction to the Modane Underground Laboratory and the SuperNEMO experiment. Through this exploration, attendees will gain insight into the critical role that scintillators play in probing the fundamental aspects of particle physics.

BIO

Rastislav Hodak is an experimental physicist focusing on neutrino physics. He leads the group “Neutrino & Underground Laboratory LSM” at the Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague.

His research is currently connected with double beta decay experiments, the aim of which is to determine neutrino properties (nature, mass, etc.). He contributes to the development and integration of new technologies for underground experiments that require an extremely low radioactive background. He is also involved in the R&D of various organic scintillators, working closely with an industrial partner – NUVIA a.s.

Speaker: Rastislav Hodak (IEAP CTU in Prague (CZ))

10:00 Astrophysics

Abstract
This lecture will provide a brief overview of the Standard Model of Cosmology. Within this framework, the main challenges in astroparticle physics will be outlined, including the Lithium problem, the Hubble tension, the abundance of dark matter, the baryon asymmetry of the Universe, the paradigm of cosmological inflation, the growing tension in neutrino mass detection, and others. The aim of the lecture is to highlight the beauty and richness of the field of astroparticle physics and to inspire young researchers.

BIO
Dr. Adam Smetana earned his PhD from Charles University in Prague, conducting his research at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences. He currently serves as the Scientific Secretary of the Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics (IEAP) at the Czech Technical University in Prague. He is a member of the council of the European Consortium for Astroparticle Theory (EuCAPT), representing the group of Czech Astroparticle Theorists (CzAPT). He also leads the astroparticle physics group at the Department of Theory and Modeling at IEAP. His primary scientific interests include neutrino astroparticle physics, electromagnetic properties of neutrinos and dark matter, gravitational waves in media, aspects of quantum field theory of gravitons, and nonperturbative aspects of non-Abelian theories.

Speaker: Adam Smetana (IEAP CTU in Prague (CZ))

11:00 → 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 → 12:30 Lectures

11:30 Overview of Astroparticle Observations

ABSTRACT
This lecture will present motivation for the need to detect and monitor radiation environment in space, methodology of detection as well as brief history of radiation detectors used in space. The lecture will concentrate on the space radiation observation using semiconductor detectors of the Timepix family, overview of such detectors developed at IEAP CTU and their application in space. These missions include deployment on ISS, Lunar Gateway and most recently for in-situ resources exploration of planetary bodies like Moon and Mars, where IEAP CTU is developing neutron spectrometers to be used for mapping of subsurface water deposits.

BIO
Dr. Robert Filgas got his PhD from the Technical University of Munich working at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. He is the Head of the Department of Experimental Physics at the Institute of Experimental and Applies Physics, Czech Technical University. He is responsible for space projects at the Institute – development of radiation monitoring detectors for space, development of neutron spectrometers for lunar exploration missions and analysis of radiation data for space weather models, radiation hazard assessments, maps of subsurface water deposits, etc.

Speaker: Robert Filgas (IEAP CTU in Prague, Czechia)

12:30 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 17:30 Exercises

Thursday 10 July

09:00 → 10:30 Lectures

09:00 Present and Future of Nuclear Power Engineering

Abstract

Nuclear energy is experiencing a renaissance, this time driven by efforts to stress the need for protection of the environment, decentralize power, and find new technologies.

This lecture will outline the fundamentals of nuclear energy, summarize the current state of knowledge in this field, and touch upon innovative technologies. Specific designs for nuclear reactors will be mentioned, which are expected to form the main source of low-emission electricity generation in the coming decades.

BIO

Jan Syblík is a mechanical engineer with a strong focus on nuclear energy engineering. He leads the Research and Analysis of Nuclear Safety Department at the Czech National Radiation Protection Institute (SÚRO).

His expertise spans nuclear safety, nuclear fuels, thermal hydraulics, the emerging field of small modular reactors, and the pioneering use of supercritical CO2 in power engineering.

Speaker: Jan Syblik (NRPI, Czechia)

10:30 → 11:00 Coffee break

11:00 → 12:30 Lectures

11:00 Statistics and Measurements

ABSTRACT
Statistical methods play a crucial role in measurement and data analysis, whether in research, natural sciences, or engineering applications. This lecture will provide an overview of both fundamental and advanced statistical techniques with direct application potential. Emphasis will be placed not only on theoretical foundations but also on the practical use of methods across various technical disciplines. Additionally, the lecture will cover commonly used software tools for data processing and analysis.

BIO
Karel Smolek is the Deputy Director and the Head of the Department of Theory and Modeling at the Institute of Experimental and Applies Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague. His scientific activities are related to a phenomenology in particle physics, Monte-Carlo simulations of processes in high energy physics and simulations of an interaction of ionizing particles with matter, development of scintillating detectors, radon problematics in low background experiments and related technologies, experiments related to neutrino physics, cosmic rays, and statistical data analysis.

Speaker: Karel Smolek (IEAP CTU in Prague (CZ))

12:30 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 17:30 Exercises

Friday 11 July

09:00 → 09:30 Lectures

09:00 Highlighting your work: Some simple suggestions and hints

Speaker: Patrick Le Dû (CEA, France)

09:30 → 12:30 Preparation of student presentations

12:30 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 17:30 Student presentations

17:30 → 18:00 Wrap up and Conclusion