Graduates of the school's programme are now better equipped to strengthen their countries' emergency preparedness and response (EPR) systems. This Spanish-language version of the School of Radiation Emergency Management (SREM) demonstrates the IAEA's commitment to strengthening EPR in the region. It marks the fifth time the school has been organized in the region since its first iteration in 2015. Offered in four official United Nations languages, each SREM is organized and implemented through the IAEA's technical cooperation programme with the technical support of the IAEA's Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC).
Carlos Torres Vidal, Director of the IAEA's IEC, emphasized the IAEA's steadfast support for enhancing EPR capabilities across Latin America and the Caribbean. "The school constitutes the most comprehensive training in nuclear EPR," he said. "It offers a novel training concept by providing an integrated overview of the requirements to evaluate and improve preparedness systems for radiological emergencies."
"Participants benefit from the expertise of first-rate IAEA specialists with extensive practical experience in emergency preparedness and response, coming from diverse organizations such as regulatory bodies, technical support organizations and nuclear operators," said Torres Vidal.
The three-week programme, hosted by Argentina's Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN) in Buenos Aires, featured a modular structure that combined theoretical and practical components. Participants attended lectures on key EPR topics, including emergency management systems, public communication and medical response. These were complemented by case studies, drills and tabletop exercises that simulated real-world scenarios, enabling participants to apply their knowledge in a controlled setting and encouraging future collaboration. Site visits to the National Atomic Energy Commission and the Atucha Nuclear Power Plant provided opportunities to observe emergency arrangements and response practices firsthand.
The school constitutes the most comprehensive training in nuclear EPR
Participants of the IAEA School of Radiation Emergency Management alongside the Policia Federal Argentina team. (Photo: IAEA)
"Since its inception, the School of Radiation Emergency Management has been, and continues to be, a cornerstone of the IAEA's efforts to enhance preparedness for emergencies," said Rodrigo Salinas, Senior Specialist on Emergency Preparedness and Response at the United Arab Emirates' Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation and a lecturer at the school.
Additionally, a response exercise at the Argentine Federal Police showcased coordinated efforts in emergency scenarios. A highlight of the course was the introduction of the importance of EPR for advanced technologies and methodologies . Participants engaged in a regional discussion on radiological monitoring networks, such as the IAEA's International Radiation Monitoring System (IRMIS), which supports countries in enhancing emergency response.
Nuclear and radiological emergencies do not recognize national borders - as a result, international coordination and information-sharing are vital to both national preparedness and response arrangements. Underscoring the role of regional collaboration, the school's curriculum included a role-play exercise facilitated by the National Nuclear Security Administration of the United States of America simulating the recovery of a missing radiological source and demonstrating cross-agency coordination. Similarly, Chilean and Argentine experts organized a virtual simulation of radiological monitoring, and an IAEA expert demonstrated the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to perform real-time monitoring and spectra analysis.
"Radiological emergency response requires specialists and appropriate technology. For this reason, we included the use of drones for radiological monitoring and conducted radiological monitoring and spectra analysis in real-time, applying specific software," said ARN expert Walter Truppa. "This exercise between Argentina and Chile serves as a clear example of regional cooperation in emergency response."
By equipping a new generation of EPR managers with knowledge and tools based on IAEA safety standards, the programme contributes to building resilient systems that protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
"The knowledge we gained came from IAEA experts' presentations, which reflected their vast experience in applying General Safety Requirements Part 7, along with site visits to nuclear and radioactive facilities, tabletop exercises and demonstrations of ionizing radiation detection equipment conducted during the School," said Otilia Alcántara Bernal, a technical consultant at Mexico's National Nuclear Safety and Safeguards Commission.
