Disease, Disaster, and Democracy: The Public's Stake in Health Emergency Planning
May 23, 2006

This summit was designed to advise leaders in government, public health, and disaster management on the feasibility and benefits of actively engaging citizens in planning for large-scale health emergencies, in anticipation of (1) the ethical dilemmas posed by scarce life-saving medical resources and (2) the logistical difficulties of protecting the well and caring for the sick in large numbers.
  

Bulls, Bears, and Birds: Preparing the Financial Industry for a Pandemic
September 23, 2005

During this half-day symposium on avian influenza, world experts briefed leaders from the business and financial sector on actions they could take to mitigate the effects of an avian influenza pandemic. (Available online: speaker video, transcripts, and slides along with synopses of speakers' recommendations, prepared by Center staff.)
 

International Conference on Biosafety and Biorisks
March 2-3, 2005

Organized in collaboration with the World Health Organization Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response (CSR) Office in Lyon, France, this meeting convened 150 scientists, health leaders and practitioners to discuss biosafety and biosecurity challenges presented by SARS, influenza and other major epidemic threats, as well as efforts needed to improve international cooperation prior to and during future epidemics. (Available online: summaries written by Center staff and speaker slides.)
 

Atlantic Storm
January 14, 2005

Atlantic Storm simulated a bioterrorist attack on the nations of the transatlantic community. During this "table-top" exercise, former prime ministers and other senior government officials from the transatlantic community played the roles of the heads of government of their respective nations. (Available online: background information, conference materials, and the after-action report.)
 

The Public as an Asset, Not a Problem: A Summit on Leadership During Bioterrorism
February 3-4, 2003

The purpose of this event was to synthesize for government and public health authorities the essential principles of leadership, based on frontline experiences with recent terrorism events and other relevant crises, that encourage the public's constructive collaboration in confronting a bioterrorist attack. (Available online: transcripts and audio recordings of talks.)
 

Dark Winter
June 22-23, 2001

The Dark Winter exercise portrayed a fictional scenario depicting a covert smallpox attack on U.S. citizens. The scenario is set in three successive National Security Council (NSC) meetings which take place over 2 weeks. Former senior government officials played the roles of NSC members; media representatives were among the observers and played journalists during the mock press conferences. The exercise was held at Andrews Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. (Available online: background information, participant list, the Dark Winter script, briefing materials, and several articles.)
 

2nd National Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism
November 28-29, 2000

After introducing the subject of bioterrorism at the first symposium, the second symposium was convened to consider actions that might be taken by national leaders to diminish the risk of bioterrorism and/or to lessen the suffering such weapons would inflict upon civilian populations. Senator Edward M. Kennedy delivered the closing address. (Available online: transcripts and audio recordings of talks.)
 

National Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism
February 16-17, 1999

The National Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism was the watershed event in raising awareness among medical and public health practitioners about their critical roles in bioterrorism response. (Available online: audio recordings of talks.)