It is with deep sadness that we have to inform the readers of International Journal of Radiation Biology of the passing of our close friend and colleague, Prof. Naomi Harley. Naomi passed away at her home on the 11 June 2023 at the age of 90 and was laid to rest next to her husband, Dr. John Harley, in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Naomi received her PhD in Radiological Physics from New York University in 1971, her Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering from New York University in 1967, and her Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from The Cooper Union, NYC, in 1959.
Naomi was a Research Professor, in the Department of Environmental Medicine, at the New York University School of Medicine. Her primary research interest was in the measurement and internal and external dose evaluation of human exposure to ionizing radiation, in particular to radon, thoron and other naturally occurring radioactive materials. Her research resulted in over 170 scientific publications, and 6 patents. In her years on the faculty, she mentored many Masters and Doctoral students who went on to contribute to the Health Physics community.
Naomi was a Distinguished Emeritus Member of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, and a recipient of Fellow Award of Health Physics Society. She was a member of the United States of America delegation to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) for almost 30 years. More recently, Naomi served as a critical reviewer for annexes publishing in the UNSCEAR 2019 Report and the 2020/2021 Report. Naomi will be missed by our scientific communities.
In addition to her research efforts, Naomi had a passion for both domestic animals and wildlife, travel, and her stamp collections.
On behalf of the US delegation and the UNSCEAR, we would like to express our sincerest condolences to the Harley family.