The University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy (FSA) will host the "New Thinking, New Tactics: Real-World Disaster Management" national conference for specially selected leaders in fire fighting and disaster management, June 26-28, 2007, at the Academy campus in Carlin, Nev.

Funded as part of a three-year, $7.45-million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for anti-terrorism and fire training for municipal and rural firefighters, the conference will introduce participants to two new cutting-edge programs developed by the FSA to enhance the nation's emergency response preparedness: "Management of Large-Scale Disasters for Public Officials" and "Responding to Terrorist Incidents in Your Community: Flammable-Liquid Fire Fighting Techniques for Municipal and Rural Firefighters Train-the-Trainer Course."

The two courses were developed and will be presented by a team of University faculty, led by George Quick, M.P.A., assistant director for programs and operations at the Academy, and Michael Southerly, M.A., FSA program development specialist. The conference also will feature guest speakers including Cortez Lawrence, Ph.D., superintendent, FEMA Emergency Management Institute; Daniel Benjamin, M.A., director, Center on the United States and Europe, and senior fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Brookings Institution; Frederick Cowie, Ph.D., emergency management consultant; and Markus Kemmelmeier, Ph.D., associate professor, University of Nevada, Reno Department of Sociology.

Conference attendees will experience portions of the new advanced-level courses on the FSA's 426-acre, state-of-the-art campus, which features multimedia classrooms as well as props for live-simulation training in fire fighting, industrial rescue and hazardous materials. Invited participants including private industry response specialists, emergency managers, and fire and elected officials will provide feedback and take part in discussions for program development. Conference transportation, accommodations, meals and activities are provided by the FSA with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.

For more information about the "New Thinking, New Tactics: Real-World Disaster Management" conference or other programs offered at the Academy, contact the University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy, (775) 754-6003 or 1-866-914-0015 or email fireacademy@unr.edu. Visit http://www.fireacademy.unr.edu.

Recognized as one of the most comprehensive emergency response programs and facilities in the world, the University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy has been training and preparing organizations, businesses and government agencies in crisis and emergency management, hazardous materials containment, rescue operations, and industrial fire fighting for more than 30 years.