A technical society is being established for individuals involved in contaminated land risk assessment.

The Society for Brownfield Risk Assessment (SoBRA) will be the first society of its kind dedicated to furthering development of contaminated land risk assessment. As a non-profit-making charity, its aim is to support the growing number of professionals who are tasked to scientifically assess and make decisions on land affected by contamination.

The society is aimed at both the private and public sectors. Its organisers anticipate a learned society, run by a democratically-elected committee, which is devoted to improving technical knowledge, and will enhance the professional status and profile of this field of work.

SoBRA’s inaugural workshop will be held in Spring 2009. The workshops, to be held twice-yearly, will be a forum for information exchange regarding best practice in risk assessment, with discussion of risk assessment hot topics. Membership will be open to any individual who is involved or has an interest in contaminated land risk assessment. The membership fee is likely to be in the region of £50 per year.

The society’s organisers invite input from prospective members, including views on which topics should be discussed at the inaugural workshop. A short survey can be accessed here.