The Geiger Counter Bulletin is dedicated to radiation detection and the Geiger Counter, an instrument that has had a significant historic role in the Nuclear Age. The trusty Geiger Counter is still often the best and most economical instrument for detecting radiation hazards in the home, workplace, environment.
When choosing a Geiger Counter, it is important to find one with the right features for your application. We strive to answer questions about radiation detection, and common problems that are encountered in the field. Our goal is to present this information in terms that can be understood by the lay person as well as the radiation safety professional. The Fukushima situation is dominating the conversation right now, but that will change as the situation resolves there.
The Bulletin was conceived by Dan Sythe. Dan has been using Geiger Counters for for over fifty years, and began designing them over thirty years ago. His instruments have been utilized for protecting human health, and for safety, in science, industry, education, security, medicine and by journalists, citizen activists, advocacy organizations, hobbyists, safety enthusiasts and curious people throughout the world. His most influential mentors include Dr. Karl Z Morgan, known as the Father of Modern Health Physics, and Dr. John Gofman, Founder of Physicians for Nuclear Responsibility. Other important influences have been Dr. Roland Finston, Health Physics Director (retired) of Stanford University, and Dr. Anthony Greenhouse, Health Physicist with associations at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories. He has worked with communities affected by Nuclear Age developments throughout the world, including downwinders from nuclear test sites, Chernobyl affected areas and Three Mile Island. In the security arena his specialized instruments were chosen for use by Defense Threat Reduction Agency to prevent smuggling of nuclear weapons during the break-up of the Soviet Union. After 9/11 his Geiger Counters were chosen by FDNY, New York State Police, New York Governor’s Office, New York EPA, and by numerous public safety and hazmat organizations throughout the U.S. and the world.
Dan believes that the best medicine is prevention, and works to provide the best possible instrumentation and information to keep us all healthy. When dealing with controversial issues regarding radiation health and safety, Dan prefers utilizing the precautionary principle, erring on the side of safety whenever possible.
Dan is CEO and Chairman of IMI – International Medcom, a company he co-founded in 1986. Previously he was Senior Electronic Design Engineer at Astec/BSR and a Founder and Director of Instrument Research and Development at SE IInternational.
