A Multidisciplinary Workshop to Train the Next Generation International Safeguards Advocate, February 9-12, 2010, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA

The University of Missouri Chapter of INMM hosted a workshop entitled, “A Multidisciplinary Workshop to Train the Next Generation Safeguards Advocate,” February 9-12, 2010 in conjunction with the INMM Central Chapter and with support and assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The workshop focused on utilizing the interdisciplinary resources inherent in a university setting to accomplish the goal of addressing the many facets of nuclear safeguards/nonproliferation issues. U.S. governmental and international organizations, national laboratories, private security contractors, power production facilities and equipment manufacturers need a highly skilled workforce now and in the future. Experts in areas as diverse as business management, policy, informatics, geospatial technology and engineering are needed to address the complex 21st century challenges and opportunities related to safeguards/nonproliferation efforts that fall outside the sphere of traditional nuclear engineering education but are crucial to developing a robust workforce. Because new courses, certificates and degree options can be logistically challenging to develop, it is prudent to evaluate the existing educational infrastructure at universities to explore how current programs and courses can contribute to the education of safeguards/nonproliferation practitioners. This workshop incorporated faculty and students from universities where nuclear-related programs or research exist as a core competency, but where other pertinent subjects are taught. Experts from national laboratories offered presentations on safeguards, nonproliferation and security subject areas to students. University faculty described their disciplines to students and other faculty to assist in uncovering these multidisciplinary educational pathways. Based upon the material presented, the students provided feedback for the development of a crosswalk between the skills needed to function as a safeguards professional and the knowledge and skills developed through existing courses. Encouraging interdisciplinary recruitment to the field will help to ensure the successful development of the next generation of well-qualified nuclear safeguards practitioners.