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The Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Radioactivity (CARER) has been established by the Mangalore University and will be dedicated to the nation on June 10. 

It has been established as a national facility through the financial support from the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, and technical support from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). The CARER has been established through a BRNS project sanctioned in the year 2014 titled ‘Standardisation of techniques for 14C and 3H measurements in environmental matrices and evaluation of population doses in the vicinity of PHWR power plant’ to CARER with a funding of nearly Rs 6 crore. 

The centre is engaged in frontline research on radioecology and environmental radioactivity in collaboration with BRNS, BARC, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL). It has six laboratories with state-of-the-art facilities for radio-ecological studies. 

Six laboratories 
These facilities are being extended for researchers from national and international laboratories, universities and institutions, and industries: The six laboratories are – Liquid sci-ntillation spectrometry, Carbon-14 and Tritium measurements laboratory, Alpha spectrometry laboratory, Gamma spectrometry laboratory, Radon laboratory, Sample processing laboratory and laboratory and laboratory for simulation studies on deposition velocity, deposition rate, and mass interception factors of radionuclide /stable elements.

The centre helps to conduct advanced research studies in environmental radioactivity, radiation protection, and radioecology of national importance. 

It also aims to collaborate with other institutions and evolve regional coordinated research projects on radioecology and radiation protection, which are of interest to BRNS, DAE, BARC, and NPCIL and ensure generation of quality data from all project partners and to extend advanced facilities to the teaching programmes of Mangalore University and other institutions. It also focuses on generating trained human resources in areas of low-level radioactivity measurements and radiation protection through frequent training programmes and vacation courses. 

The CARER is accredited by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for the measurement of radioactivity in commodities and issuing certificates as per the regulations of BIS, Government of India. Industries from all over India approach CARER for testing of materials such as spices, packaged water, pharmaceuticals, food materials, etc meant for export as well as for public consumption. Besides this, many other industries such as thermal power plants, mining industries and metal industries are using the facilities of CARER for testing their products for radioactivity. The CARER can undertake testing for radioactivity and issue certification for packaged water, food, commodities, etc.