Carnegie Corporation of New York Awards Grant for Stevens Institute of Technology Workshop on Nuclear Issues Education
Hoboken, N.J. (PRWEB) September 04, 2013 -- Stevens Institute of Technology, a premier, private technological research university, and the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), a Washington, D.C.-based think tank focused on reducing nuclear threats to national and international security, have been awarded a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to host a workshop to promote better nuclear issues education.
“In a world that harbors significant nuclear dangers, there is a limited understanding of nuclear issues,” said Dr. Edward Friedman, emeritus professor of technology management at Stevens and a principal investigator on the Carnegie grant. “While there are significant initiatives that seek to expand and strengthen development of education and training of experts in nuclear-related areas, the broader domain of education for mainstream professionals has been neglected.”
The one-day invitational workshop, to be held in mid-November at Stevens, will bring together university faculty, private foundation officers, think tank professionals and other subject area experts to explore ways to expand university-level nuclear issues education for professionals in the fields of international relations, public policy, security, journalism and energy.
The workshop will focus on the development of the Virtual Nuclear Issues Education Center (VNIEC), a one-stop-shop for information, news and analysis about nuclear issues. The VNIEC will advance the education and networking opportunities of mainstream professionals working in the news media, government agencies or non-governmental organizations. It will also provide online resources for further education, such as curriculum materials, course syllabi and open source textbooks.
Stevens is a forerunner in security research and education through the Center for Secure and Resilient Maritime Commerce (CSR), a U.S. Department of Homeland Security national research center of excellence, led by Stevens, which provides education, training, research and outreach programs in port and maritime security.
In addition, through its Science, Technology and Society program in the College of Arts & Letters, Stevens currently offers an undergraduate course on “the nuclear era.” The course explores the scientific research and technology developments which led to the beginning of the nuclear era during World War II and shows how nuclear weapons have shaped international relations in the 21st century.
In spring 2014, the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science will also introduce a graduate course on nuclear terrorism and security which will study the underlying realities of a nuclear catastrophe, with a focus on the role of maritime security in responding to and recovering from such events.
“Our goal is to promote new and enriched undergraduate and graduate courses to bring greater understanding of nuclear issues to mainstream students who are not pursuing specialized expertise in these areas of study,” said Dr. Julie Pullen, director of the CSR and a principal investigator on the Carnegie grant.
Founded in 1945 by many of the Manhattan Project scientists who wanted to prevent nuclear war, FAS is one of the longest serving organizations in the world providing technically-based research and analysis on nuclear threats and other weapons of mass effect to national and international security. The FAS network consists of more than 2,500 scientists, engineers and security specialists. More than 65 Nobel science laureates are members of the FAS Board of Sponsors.
“The partnership between Stevens and the FAS establishes a unique joint capability in bringing national expertise and educational excellence together to tackle the task of expanding the study of nuclear issues in America’s colleges and universities,” said Dr. Charles Ferguson, president of FAS.
About Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology, The Innovation University®, is a premier, private research university situated in Hoboken, N.J. overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Founded in 1870, technological innovation has been the hallmark and legacy of Stevens’ education and research programs for more than 140 years. Within the university’s three schools and one college, more than 6,100 undergraduate and graduate students collaborate with more than 350 faculty members in an interdisciplinary, student-centric, entrepreneurial environment to advance the frontiers of science and leverage technology to confront global challenges. Stevens is home to three national research centers of excellence, as well as joint research programs focused on critical industries such as healthcare, energy, finance, defense and STEM education and coastal sustainability. The university is the fastest-rising college in the U.S. News & World Report ranking of the best national universities, and it is consistently ranked among the nation’s elite for return on investment for students, career services programs, and mid-career salaries of alumni. Stevens is in the midst of a 10-year strategic plan, The Future. Ours to Create., designed to further extend the Stevens legacy to create a forward-looking and far-reaching institution with global impact.
About the Federation of American Scientists
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) works to provide science-based analysis of and solutions to protect against catastrophic threats to national and international security. Specifically, FAS works to reduce the spread and number of nuclear weapons, prevent nuclear and radiological terrorism, promote high standards for nuclear energy’s safety and security, illuminate government secrecy practices, as well as track and eliminate the global illicit trade of conventional, nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. FAS was founded in 1945 by many of the Manhattan Project scientists who wanted to prevent nuclear war and is one of the longest serving organizations in the world dedicated to reducing nuclear threats and informing the public debate by providing technically-based research and analysis on these issues. FAS staff comprise a highly skilled and dedicated team with professional experience in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, environmental science, nuclear engineering, physics, and political science. More than 65 Nobel science laureates have endorsed FAS as members of the Board of Sponsors.
Danielle Wooddruffe, Stevens Institute of Technology, +1 (617) 785-0433, [email protected]
Share this article