6560 Radiation and Radioactivity for the Curious
Science & Technology | Registration opens Monday, March 2, 2026 12:00 AM
You have heard of Radiation and Radioactivity all your life. Do you know
what it is? Do you know when and where you might encounter it? Do you know when to worry about it? This brief introduction will acquaint you with the history of radiological science. We will cover in layman’s terms
what radioactivity is. We will explore the units used to quantify it and the levels of concern and basic methods of self-protection. Finally, we willdiscuss what happens to the human body from low to high levels of
exposure. Real-world radiological threats will be discussed, including how you might protect yourself in the event of a disaster such as a nuclear power plant accident or the sum of all fears, a nuclear attack. The class will include demonstrations with radiation detection equipment and household radioactive items. Join us and get your questions answered.
Tom Gorman
Tom Gorman is a retired Radiation Protection Specialist with over 40 years of experience in radiological protection, beginning with 6 years in the Nuclear Navy aboard a fast attack nuclear submarine, followed by 6 years in commercial nuclear power, and 30 years in the National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) National Laboratory complex. He served his last 20 years full-time on an NNSA Radiological Emergency Response team, assisting fire, law enforcement, and military first responders with radiological response and training activities worldwide. Tom responded to the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster in 2011 as a field monitoring specialist, entering evacuated areas to conduct measurements throughout the early phases of the disaster. Tom has an endless supply of experiences and stories to tell of the world of applied nuclear science and has a knack for sharing his enthusiasm in plain, easy-to-understand language.