Summer '17 Bilateral on the US West Coast

In a continuation of recent  interactions mirroring the UK-US special relationship, the UK and US Programmes on Nuclear Issues repeated their summer bilateral on the US West Coast this year. British nuclear academics, policy makers, and practitioners, including CSSS's Dr Rob Downes, traveled to California and Nevada, joining their US counterparts to explore subjects of mutual interest to both countries that cross the technology and policy realms. Highlights included descending into a missile silo at the Minuteman III test launch facility at Vandenburg Air Force Base and a day-long tour of the Nevada National Security Site. Dr Downes was fortunate to be invited to present his recent joint work with Dr Chris Hobbs on the pitfalls of modelling nuclear terrorism during a successful seminar session at the Centre for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterrey Institute of International Studies. Delegates also attended meetings at the US Naval Postgraduate School, having the opportunity to discuss the impact of emerging technologies in the nuclear realm with faculty and students.