Princeton School on Science and Global Security

21-24 October 2021 
Princeton University
Princeton NJ, USA 

ANNOUNCEMENT AND APPLICATION 

Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security will host an international School on Science and Global Security from 21-24 October 2021. The School will be in person unless health precautions dictate otherwise. 
The main focus of the School on Science and Global Security will be technical perspectives on understanding, reducing and ending the threat from nuclear weapons. It will include potential impacts for nuclear arms racing and disarmament of emerging technologies such as cyber, machine-learning, and space-based sensors. The meeting will include presentations, interactive learning experiences and tutorials, including on how to engage with nuclear weapon policy-making processes. 

The goal of the meeting is to help encourage and train next-generation scientists and engineers from around the world to work on the global security issues stemming from the existence of nuclear weapons, and to foster an international community of such researchers. It follows on from the annual Summer Symposiums on Science and World Affairs that originated at Princeton in 1989 and were organized by the Union of Concerned Scientists since the mid-1990s. 

WHO SHOULD APPLY: Ideally, participants should be graduate students or post-doctoral researchers in natural or applied sciences, engineering, or mathematics. Postdoctoral applicants typically will have received their PhD within the last three years, although people interested in changing career trajectories are also welcomed to apply. To strengthen diversity in the science and global security policy field, the School on Science and Global Security encourages applicants of every gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. 

HOW TO APPLY: Applicants must submit a two-page CV including a short description of their background and interests in security issues, and a 1000-word essay on a relevant policy issue with a technical dimension. This material is due by 1 June 2021 by email to summerschool@princeton.edu. Applicants can expect to be notified of the results by 1 July 2021. 

WHAT TO EXPECT: At the School on Science and Global Security, each participant must give a talk on research that is underway or proposed related to technical aspects of a nuclear-weapon policy issue. Each talk will be 20 minutes with 20 minutes of Q&A. The title of the presentation as well as a 200-word abstract are both due by 15 September. Please note that the talk need not be on the same subject as the application essay. 

Participants are expected to stay for the entire meeting and attend all sessions. The meetings are structured to encourage the active engagement of all participants, to educate and help participants new to the field formulate research projects, and to foster strong relationships between participants. The meeting is conducted in English. 

Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security will cover cost of travel, visa, accommodation and meals for all participants during the Summer School. Participants should plan on arriving by the evening of 21 October and departing on 24 October.