The first International Workshop on Accelerator Radiation Induced Activation (ARIA'08) took place at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI). PSI is located in the northern part of Switzerland, close to the German border, about 40 km northwest of Zurich. Several particle accelerators are operated at this multi-disciplinary research institute for natural science and technology. With its current intensity of 2 mA at an end energy of 590-MeV, the main proton ring cyclotron is the worlds most powerful proton accelerator facility. The beam is used for pion and muon production at two target stations and then guided onto the target of the spallation neutron source SINQ. In 2007, a dedicated cyclotron for medical purposes has started operation, PROSCAN. Besides the proton accelerators, a 2.4-GeV electron synchrotron called SLS is operated at PSI as well, providing photon beams of high brightness for research in materials science, biology and chemistry. Work is in progress to realize the next large PSI project: an X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) based on a 5.8-GeV electron linac.

PSI has built up a strong program in characterizing the activation and nuclide inventories of radioactive components from the proton accelerator facilities. The increasing importance of these issues worldwide in the context of handling and disposal of such components has prompted the idea of this workshop.