About this course

Lectures: Overview of the different types and phases of nuclear and radiological accidents and incidents. ICRP and IAEA INES (International nuclear and radiological event scale) classification. Introduction to the Norwegian Crisis Committee for Emergency Preparedness. Accident scenarios and radiological impact modelling (SNAP, ARGOS). Triage, protective and remediation actions. Socioeconomic and psychological impacts of accidents. Public perception, communication and social media response.

Emergency Accident Response Exercise: Drawing from experience of IAEA, NEA and national emergency exercises, the students will spend one day running through a simulated nuclear emergency, demonstrating the different phases of an emergency, and the various decisions and challenges to be addressed. Students will be assigned to different groups and prepare responses to different phases of the accident. The presentation of group work will form the basis of the oral exam.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: Students will understand the different types and phases of nuclear and radiological incidents. Students will understand different approaches to monitoring and responding to nuclear accidents, including non-radiological impacts on society, the different roles of emergency preparedness actors and the importance of communication and stakeholder engagement.

Skills: The students will be able to analyze and classify different radiological incidents. They will be able to carry out basic assessments of the potential human and environmental impacts and acquire basic training in stakeholder communication. Through analysis of real-life case studies, students will be able to apply the knowledge learnt to practical applications.

General competence: The students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the complex challenges that nuclear emergency preparedness presents for society. They will learn how to apply critical thinking to the evaluation of case-studies, as well as to prepare and present technical and scientific work, orally and in writing.

  • Learning activities

    Teaching methodologies include problem-based learning, using case studies to illustrate the complexity of issues and allow students to develop a deeper understanding of the factors influencing problem-framing and assumptions. In addition to standard lectures followed by discussions, we will incorporate "flipped-classroom" methods, wherein home studies of curriculum contents are followed by presentations and discussions in class

    Lectures will provide the necessary background to emergency preparedness and will be supported by discussions, exercises (group and individual) and case studies. Class exercises and group discussions and feedback will allow teachers to monitor student learning progression. There will be a half day visit to the Direktorat for Atomsikkerhet og Strålevern (DSA) to gain insight into operational emergency preparedness in Norway.

    The emergency preparedness exercise will provide insights into the practical challenges of accident management and response. Through group work, students will conduct their own analysis and assessment of a selected stage of the accident scenario, and present a written summary and oral presentation for discussion within the classroom.

  • Teaching support

    Lectures, literature (books, reports and scientific articles), mentoring.

  • Syllabus

    Information can be found in Canvas.

  • Prerequisites

    KJM100

  • Recommended prerequisites

    KJM120, MATH100, FYS100, MILJØ200, RAD200

  • Assessment method

    Oral exam

    Grading system: Passed/Not passed

  • About use of AI

    Oral exam: K1 - No use of AI

    Mandatory activity: K3 - Full use of AI.

    The use of AI is permitted, but it must comply with the Guidelines for Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at NMBU.

    Descriptions of AI-category codes.

  • Examiner scheme

    An external examiner will be used to evaluate the oral exam.

  • Mandatory activity

    The first lecture is mandatory. Exercises, casestudies, group-work and reports are mandatory.

  • Teaching hours

    Lectures: 25 hours

    Site visits and case-studies (seminars and student presentations) ca. 12 hr contact time (1 full day and an halv dag)

    Group and individual case study work.

  • Admission requirements

    Science