The last year has been a successful one for COGER, which continues to attract a large number of participants to the annual meeting, as well as providing advice to NERC on matters relating to environmental radioactivity. The last annual meeting was held between 15-17 September 1997, at the University of Liverpool, reflecting the strong research interests in our field that have developed there in recent years. Eighty five delegates attended, representing 10 universities, five private sector organisations, two government departments and seven public sector research institutes. As usual, both delegates and presentations represented the very wide range of disciplines covered by environmental radioactivity, with the latter including food safety, pathways of radionuclides in air, soil, water and vegetation, radioactivity mapping and environmental geochemistry. A particularly useful contribution was that of David Pryke, from MAFF, who talked about the work and role of RADREM in research on environmental radioactivity. The COGER lecturer was Doug Harkness of the NERC Radiocarbon Laborator who followed in the great tradition of giving a highly stimulating and entertaining talk on 'Confessions of a carbon addict - a whistle stop tour through 50 years of carbon isotope geochemistry'. This covered an aspect of environmental radioactivity which has perhaps received a rather lower degree of attention at COGER previously. The use of a radioisotope in archaeological research, more recent historical studies, and in global carbon cycling research. The 1998 meeting returns to Scotland, being held 2-4 September at the University of Scotland. Over 80 participants are expected and there is a full and varied programme, including this year's COGER lecturer, Professor Bryn Bridges, who will tell us about the work of COMARE.

On a sad note, we heard news of the death in January this year of Roger Cambray, an old colleague of mine at Harwell, who gave the first COGER lecture in 1989, on 'Radioactive Fallout: A Historical Perspective', which was memorable for its slides of a young Roger viewing enthusiastically the early British nuclear tests.

During the last year, COGER has twice been asked to provide advice to NERC to assist with its response to requests for opinions on radioactivity issues. One of these was for a DETR Consultation Paper on Control and Remediation of Radioactively Contaminated Land. The other was for NERC's evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee in Science and Technology Enquiry into the Management of Nuclear Waste. In both cases the Steering Committee was delighted to be of assistance to NERC, as such advice is very much part of our terms of reference. Needless to say, the report of the Lords' Enquiry is awaited with great interest, as the government's response to it is likely to have a major influence on future environmental radioactivity research in this country.

It is now seven years since I took over from John Mather as Chairman of the COGER Steering Committee. I have greatly enjoyed working with COGER over this period, which has seen our subject maintaining a strong research profile, but I feel that the time has come for me to step down in favour of a younger person. I would like to thank all the members of the COGER community who have made my position so enjoyable, both academically and socially over the years.

A hard act to follow: the new Chairman of the COGER Steering Committee shares his thoughts on the future of COGER as he takes over from Nigel Bell by Dr David Rimmer

For most members the annual meeting is the sole manifestation of the group's activities. It is therefore important that the meetings continue to be stimulating, informative and enjoyable occasions, so that the attendance is maintained and NERC can be persuaded to continue their financial support. Under Nigel's chairmanship innovations in the format of the meeting have been sought. We must continue to do so, and one way will be to bring into the COGER fold those involved with environmental radioactivity who have not regularly attended meetings. I can think, for example, of the geomorphologists who use Chernobyl-derived Cs as a tracer in soil erosion measurements. You can probably think of others. Please let us (the Steering Committee) know, so that the scope and membership of COGER can be enlarged and the meetings kept lively.

COGER also has the task of promoting environmental radioactivity research within NERC, and of providing NERC with advice on policy issues relating to radioactivity in the environment. These less visible activities are also important and we must continue to be involved with them, if COGER is to have continuing influence. The recent announcement by MAFF that they are discontinuing their research studentships, will mean that we will have to push NERC even harder to provide more studentships in our area.