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About the Program

November 2 – 6, 2026
On-Site
Occupational Environmental Health and Safety

Program Fees

  • Standard Price $3,500.00

Program Overview

Radiological Emergency Management brings together industry experts, government professionals, and renowned academic faculty in radiation protection and emergency management to provide you with skills and strategies to effectively plan for and respond to radiological emergencies at the federal, state, local, or individual facility level. This program is unique in bringing together stakeholders from across agencies, functions, and backgrounds for an intensive look at effective planning, response, and recovery from emergencies involving radioactive materials. This program offers:

  • Expert-led sessions on radiation fundamentals and regulatory requirements, interactive class activities, and case studies
  • Skill-building in communicating about radiological emergencies, medically managing casualties of incidents involving radioactive material, managing terrorism actions, and supporting other organizations during these crises
  • The ability to network with a wide variety of stakeholders  involved in radiological emergency planning, response, and recovery

Upcoming Program Details

  • Review and understand basic radiological principles, applications, and effects
  • Receive guidance, strategies, and updates from applicable radiological emergency planning and response government agencies
  • Understand the need for, and application of, protective action guides in emergency planning and response
  • Learn how local, state, and federal agencies can assist in radiological planning and response
  • Understand radiological emergency planning as it applies to current nuclear power plants, future nuclear power plants, radiological medical emergencies, and radiological terrorism events
  • Learn how the news and social media will report on your radiological emergency and how to prepare and successfully respond to that intense visibility
  • Actively participate in two radiological event simulations covering techniques used for a technical response and for news and social media response
  • Apply the knowledge learned to comprehensively review and upgrade your current radiological emergency planning

All Times are Eastern Time (ET).

Monday, November 2, 2026
6:30–7:00 am Check-In and Continental Breakfast
7:00–8:15 am Welcome and Introduction; Classroom Technology
8:15–9:30 am Refresher: Radiation and Radioactivity
9:30–10:00 am Refreshment Break
10:00–11:00 am Refresher: Biological Effects and Risks of Radiation
11:00–11:45 am Lunch
11:45 am–1:45 pm The Federal Framework for Emergency Planning
1:45–2:15 pm Refreshment Break
2:15–3:30 pm 20-20 Hindsight Strategies for NPP Accidents
3:30–4:30 pm How to Speak, Eat, and Drive like a Bostonian!
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
6:30–7:00 am Continental Breakfast
7:00–8:00 am EPA and FDA Protective Action Guides (PAGs), Recovery, Tools
8:00–9:30 am NRC Emergency Planning
9:30–10:00 am Refreshment Break
10:00–11:00 am Key Planning Factors
11:00–11:45 am Lunch
11:45 am–12:45 pm Tools and Resources to Support Rad. Emergency Response
12:45–2:00 pm Responder RDD / IND Protocols
2:00–2:30 pm Refreshment Break
2:30–3:30 pm Nuclear Detonation: Planning Guidance
3:30–4:30 pm Nuclear Detonation: Aftermath Communications
4:30–5:30 pm Reception
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
6:30–7:00 am Continental Breakfast
7:00–9:00 am Nuclear Power Plant Emergency Preparedness Planning and Response
9:00–9:30 am Refreshment Break
9:30–10:45 am The Nuclear Renaissance: Emergency Planning for Small Modular Reactors
10:45–11:30 am Lunch
11:30 am–1:30 pm The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Accident: Consequences and Continuing Recovery Challenges
1:30–2:00 pm Break
2:00–4:30 pm Individual Group Discussions: Student Issues
Thursday, November 5, 2026
6:30–7:00 am Continental Breakfast
7:00–7:30 am Social, Psychological, and Behavioral Issues
7:30–9:30 am Managing Terrorist Incidents Involving Radioactive Materials
9:30–10:00 am Refreshment Break
10:00–11:00 am Medical Management of Radiological Casualties
11:00–11:45 am Lunch
11:45 am–2:00 pm Planning for Recovery from a Radiological Terrorism Incident: Wide Area Resiliency and Recovery Program (WARRP)
2:00–2:30 pm Refreshment Break
2:30–4:30 pm Class Participation Exercise, Radiological Event: Technical Response
Friday, November 6, 2026
6:30–7:00 am Continental Breakfast
7:00–8:30 am Your Radiological Event: What the News and Social Media are Going to Do to You!
8:30–9:00 am Refreshment Break
9:00–11:00 am Effective Radiological Event Communications
11:00–11:45 am Lunch
11:45 am–2:00 pm Class Participation Exercise, Radiological Event: Media Response
2:00–2:30 pm Course Summary and Graduation

This agenda is subject to change.

This course is designed for personnel involved in radiological emergency planning, response, or recovery in the public, private, or nonprofit sectors. Health physicists, public safety professionals, and first responders will also find this program very beneficial. Participants— both U.S. and non-U.S.—from the following organizations will also benefit greatly from the curriculum: 

  • Defense or military organizations 
  • Departments of health 
  • Environmental health & safety (EHS) groups 
  • Homeland security and emergency management agencies 
  • National Laboratories 
  • Nuclear power generation—current and future plants 
  • Nuclear or energy-industry regulatory bodies 
  • State and local emergency agencies 
  • State and local radiation control agencies 
  • Private organizations involved with radioactive materials 

Credits & Logistics

All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation upon completion of the program.

November 2026

Please check back for updated information.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health will grant 3.6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for this program, equivalent to 36 contact hours of education. Participants can apply these contact hours toward other professional education accrediting organizations.

The American Academy of Health Physics will grant 36 Continuing Education Credits for completion of this course.

All credits subject to final agenda.

Advance Your Career at Harvard with Radiological Emergency Management