Scientific Exchange on Modeling and Simulation for Radiation Sterilization

Despite the growing potential of mathematical modeling and simulation to transform industrial radiation sterilization, widespread adoption remains limited. This stems not from technical constraints, but from a lack of shared scientific frameworks, standardized verification methods, and clear quality assurance processes. As a result, modeling is often seen as supplementary rather than foundational, and industries continue to rely heavily on costly, time-intensive physical testing.

To address these challenges, this 2-day scientific exchange will bring together a diverse coalition of stakeholders from industry, academia, standards organizations, and the public sector. The event, co-hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards (CIRMS) is designed to foster critical dialogue and collaboration around building the scientific infrastructure needed to elevate modeling and simulation into trusted components of sterilization workflows.

Participants will explore how rigorous practices from adjacent fields—most notably radiation therapy—can be adapted to meet the specific needs of sterilization. The exchange will examine current modeling approaches, validation techniques, and digital toolchains, and will identify technical gaps and barriers that hinder broader acceptance. Key topics include model verification and validation, uncertainty quantification, round-robin intercomparisons, traceability to standards, and the role of metrology in underpinning trustworthy simulation outputs.