June 22, 2016
Thirteen undergraduates from top US universities will take part in the Summer Undergraduate Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey’s James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). The program aims to further the CNS mission—to combat the spread of weapons of mass destruction by educating the next generation of nonproliferation experts—with this exclusive opportunity.
The 2016 group includes eleven undergraduate interns and two Davis United World College (UWC) fellows. Each was selected through a rigorous and competitive application process. Program participants hail from Middlebury College, Brown University, Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Georgia, Georgetown University, Pomona College, Bryn Mawr College, and Emory University.
Students receive invaluable job training, work closely with CNS experts, and attend an engaging lecture series on issues relating to the spread and control of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and regional nonproliferation issues including Eurasia, East Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. Lectures focus on nuclear security, current challenges in nuclear disarmament, export controls, and open source tools for nonproliferation, and more. Additionally, students undertake their own research projects under the guidance of CNS experts.
CNS started the Summer Undergraduate Internship Program in 1997, and the Davis UWC Fellowship in Nonproliferation Studies was established in 2006. Since then, interns and Davis UWC fellows have come from a wide variety of majors, including biology, international relations, East Asian studies, nuclear engineering, mathematics, political science, peace studies, computer science, psychology, Russian Area Studies, and Economics. They are from a diverse group of colleges and universities throughout the United States. The program also accepts highly qualified international students.
In addition to CNS experts, students also have the opportunity to meet with top international experts and leaders in the field. One of the most exciting encounters will be with Dr. Lassina Zerbo, the executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty Organization. Demonstrably committed to youth education for disarmament and nonproliferation, Dr. Zerbo will travel to Monterey for the sole purpose of meeting with these young leaders. Dr. Tariq Rauf, director of the Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-proliferation Programme of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), will also once again be joining summer undergraduates to share some of his extensive experience in the nonproliferation and disarmament field, including as a former high-ranking official at the International Atomic Energy Agency. Dr. Rauf’s week-long lecture series is a thorough examination of international nonproliferation and disarmament regimes and the challenges facing them.
The program spans from early June through late August. It is funded this year by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and Tom and Sarah Pattison Fund. The three summer interns from Middlebury College are supported by the Earle Family Fund for International Education. The Davis UWC Fellowship Program is funded by the Kathryn Davis Fellows for Peace.
For more information please see the summer undergraduate nonproliferation program website at http://sites.miis.edu/summerintern/
