The 2020 G. Robert Keepin Nonproliferation Science Summer Program: A Virtual Success Story During The Covid-19 Pandemic

In 2017, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and the Nuclear Science and Security Consortium (NSSC) jointly established the G. Robert Keepin Nonproliferation Science Summer Program, named in honor of the father of nuclear safeguards. The Keepin Program annually brought a cadre of graduate and undergraduate students, largely from National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)-funded university consortia, to LANL for 8 weeks. The Program traditionally featured a research internship complemented by lectures and tours to provide exposure to the LANL mission space. A total of 79 undergraduate and graduate students have participated in the Program since it was established in 2017, 39% of whom have continued making their careers at LANL. During the summer of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for the Laboratory’s summer school programs. While many of LANL’s annual schools opted to forgo the 2020 summer, the Keepin Program organizers felt that students would still benefit from the high-quality lectures and a world-class internship experience, even remotely. This vision was successfully achieved through modifications to the Keepin Program, accommodating a virtual experience while maintaining as many components of the Program as possible. The traditional format includes a research internship and weekly activities that aim to provide exposure to the nonproliferation mission space through lectures, hands-on training, and technical tours. All 18 lectures were delivered via WebEx, and the program organizers were able to offer additional seminars, informal Q&A discussions, and ice breaker activities due to the flexibility of remote engagement. Although students were not able to travel on site, Keepin students were granted permission to complete their internships through access to tools and resources required by their projects. Ultimately, the students who participated in first virtual Keepin Program were able to work with LANL scientists and learn about nonproliferation applications for their skills. 100% of students were likely to recommend the program to others, and 90% were more likely to consider careers in nonproliferation. Although the 2020 Keepin Program looked very different from previous years, the virtual experience upheld the program’s reputation for excellence and for strengthening the pipeline of students interested in contributing to the nonproliferation mission space.