Tomáš Čermák, the youngest researcher at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Academy of Sciences and winner of the TECH TALENT of the Czech Republic award, combined scientific precision with enthusiasm for adventure during the DofE expedition. Alongside his team, he set out to investigate radiation in the Žďár Hills with a self-made gamma spectrometer made up of components from all over the world. Tomas told us in detail about the obstacles, surprises and overall rewarding experience from both a human and professional point of view in an interview.
What led you to become interested in radiation and Chernobyl-related issues? Were you already interested in this topic before you joined the DofE?
It happened by chance, I started building the spectrometer last year in March as one of the "rest" projects. It was right around the time I was finishing up my last semesters of AP Physics and nuclear physics was my pet project. So I figured I would build a gamma spectrometer. When I started thinking about the topic of the expedition, I realized that it was a beautiful fit and that I wanted to do radiation research specifically.
How did you design and build your low-cost gamma spectrometer? What was the most challenging part of its construction?
Ironically, the actual design, construction and electronics were the easier parts. The real challenge came in finding the parts. Hours spent on eBay and dubious e-shops, filling out customs declarations, 3D printing... Steve Sesselmann from the Gamma Spectacular project helped me a lot. Eventually, it became an intercontinental spectrometer. He got the photomultiplier tube from France, the crystal from Ukraine, the multi-channel analyzer from Australia. The hardest nut to crack, however, was calibration, because we have very strict regulations on radioactive material, ordering it from abroad is incredibly complicated, and samples are very expensive here. It was at that point that I established cooperation with the State Institute for Nuclear Safety and the University of South Bohemia.
Why did you choose Žďárské vrchy as a place for research of radiation levels?
In the Czech Republic, we do not have any sites that pose a radiation risk, but like much of Europe, we were affected by fallout from Chernobyl. I used to think that measuring uranium sites is not really interesting or useful because you kind of know "what you're going to find" and there's not the excitement of exploration. Right now, however, we are roughly one Cesium-137 half-life away from the Chernobyl accident, so I found maps of Cs-137 occurrences, of which there are few, they are of poor quality, and there are few landmarks. My team and I selected an affected site that seemed the best for "expediting".
How did you put the team together and what was the role of each member?
We gathered as a kind of renegade group, when everyone had dropped out of the expedition group for various reasons. And I didn't even have a group before, so we came together under "one flag". In the preparation of the expedition I have to thank my co-expeditioners, Mark Dund, Kata Chocholáčová and Terka Čučková. Although the scientific content of the expedition had been taking shape since March and the research objectives were quite clear, our group was formed only in September - so we had to plan quickly. Katya was the "chief snack man", taking charge of the food and menu; Terka was our medical officer, providing the first aid kit and documenting the expedition; Marek was the "chief navigator", devising the route and providing special equipment; I was in charge of the scientific part and crisis management. Together we then arranged accommodation and other necessities. We really worked as a team, but it was by sheer chance that we met.
What was the preparation for the expedition like and what challenges did you and your team have to overcome?
As I said before, the biggest challenge was time, we had to synchronize quickly in preparation and I am very happy that we were a team where everyone was reliable and we were able to make the expedition in early November. The second big challenge was accommodation and the onset of winter. Since we were going outside the tourist season, it was hard to find cabins that matched the "Spartan" conditions of the DofE. 🙂 So it was the accommodation that we finally chose from the four selected locations.
How did you measure and interpret the radiation values during the research?
We carried 2 instruments: a dosimeter and a gamma spectrometer. The dosimeter can record the dose rate (expressing the effect of radiation on the body) every 30 seconds, but it does not know the energy or type of radiation. After pairing it with the data from the GPS logger on my phone (and a few other adjustments), it created this beautiful radiation map. The second device was a DIY gamma spectrometer, which is significantly larger, requires a tablet and more time to measure, but shows us the energies of ionizing radiation and therefore what radioactive isotopes are decaying. Thus, spectra measurements were usually 1-2 hours during lunch and snack times.
Fun fact: we had to carry a sample of uranium ore and Americium-241 with us for calibration, so you won't see me with a dosimeter in my hand in the photo from the expedition. The rule was that whoever carries the dosimeter stays as far away from Tomas as possible, because Tomas is radioactive.
What were the main conclusions from the expedition and what surprised you the most?
The rule of thumb in radiation mapping is that you are happiest when nothing surprises you. And the great news is that the dosimeter data actually showed no elevated levels. On the contrary, I was surprised at how low the doses were. The average was around 0.14 Sv/h, which is average in the Czech Republic and below the average for radiation in old houses, for example. The initial analysis of the spectra does not even show traces of Cesium-137 and only the natural radiation background is visible - the uranium and potassium-40 decay series. For spectrometry, however, the aim was rather to show what role amateur gamma spectrometry can play in radiation protection.
How did the collaboration help you in your research?
Consultations with the State Institute for Nuclear Safety helped me to clarify the objectives of the expedition, and above all, the head of the regional SUJB advised me on the calibration samples (Cesium-137 and Cobalt-60) that allowed me to complete the spectrometer. The University of South Bohemia then lent me the calibration samples under the auspices of Associate Professor Kalová. Without them I do not know how I would have managed to calibrate the spectrometer.
What did this expedition give you not only scientifically but also personally?
The teamwork was definitely the biggest benefit for me and in retrospect I am incredibly grateful for it. The expedition was a big step out of my comfort zone, it was a lot about overcoming social anxiety and my own autistic brain. I'm not exactly a wilderness lover, I'd describe myself more as an urban type... the expedition didn't completely change that, but I definitely wouldn't mind doing it again sometime. I've come across three amazing creatures that have pushed me beyond belief. In retrospect, I'm glad that they were able to bring people together across disciplines from law to medicine and get them excited about a common research goal.
The big discovery of the expedition: with enough waterproofing, even suede shoes can be trekking shoes that are equal to any sports shoes.
What are your plans for the future? Are you planning further research?
For over a year and a half I have been working on my biggest project, cold plasma research at the Academy of Sciences, where this October I became the youngest researcher in the history of the Institute of Plasma Physics. It was for my research projects, including this expedition 🙂 that I won the TECH TALENT of the Czech Republic award for the student with the greatest contribution in STEM fields. And university applications take up a lot of my time now.
Finally, I will not forgive myself for a small advertisement for my educational project Listings.comwhich I founded within the DofE and which conveys secondary school curriculum in the form of printouts. Today over 700 people and 3 schools use it. I decided to open this project to DofE students as a volunteering opportunity. I want to give back to the DofE what it has given me and help other young people to volunteer their heads off.
