Next Generation Safeguards Initiative at Los Alamos National Laboratory – Student Perspective

In 2007 the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Office of Nonproliferation and International Security (NA-24) urged the national laboratories to create projects devoted to developing policies, concepts, technologies, expertise, and infrastructure necessary to sustain the international safeguards system. NA-24 created the Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI) to meet this challenge. The Initiative promotes the improvement of human capital and training in order to strengthen nuclear safeguards worldwide to help ensure the safe, secure, and peaceful implementation of civil nuclear energy programs. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) first launched its NGSI program in the summer of 2008 in the form of a technical nuclear safeguards overview course and laboratory practicum for students and early career staff. The courses provided vital background on the history and science behind nuclear safeguards and have since evolved to include a more advanced level laboratory practicum. This paper serves as an assessment of the student experience in the LANL NGSI program. By taking a critical and honest look at the student’s projects, personal involvement and overall view of the program, the significance of this work manifests itself through the recommendations of practical solutions for improvement. The goal is to make the LANL NGSI program a nationally recognized, competitive, and prestigious endeavor that attracts the best students and young professionals from all over the world.