Dr Ross Peel and other colleagues from the School of Security Studies are engaged in researching the field of nuclear security, which seeks to reduce the risks of nuclear harms caused by malicious actors. Nuclear facilities and materials designed to address climate challenges have long been protected against physical threats from armed attackers, but this is not enough for tomorrow’s novel nuclear technologies and their applications, especially in light of threat actors becoming more sophisticated, diverse and capable.
Some particular challenges include that nuclear security has long suffered from a lack of strong international governance, resulting in a fragmented security regime; that ‘insiders’ with access to nuclear facilities and material can act against security goals to enable acts of theft or sabotage; that nuclear facilities are increasing digitised and connected to the internet, opening the door for cyber threats; and that nuclear equipment supply chains are being expertly penetrated to enable the introduction of counterfeit, fraudulent and suspect items into nuclear facilities.
Nuclear security incidents in one country can lead to consequences for another. To address these challenges, the School of Security Studies has long managed the UK government’s Nuclear Security Capacity Building Programme and its predecessors. These programmes have set the standard for international education and training in nuclear security to practitioners globally, offering training to numerous countries and improving nuclear security practices worldwide.
Part of the work done by the School here includes the publication of research, handbooks and briefing books – the Nuclear Security Briefing Book, in particular, has been used widely in setting policy internationally. Dr Peel and his colleagues have published widely on the subject of nuclear security. In 2024, with Security Studies colleague Dr Zenobia Homan, he published research examining the security challenges for future planned nuclear reactor technologies, where the wide range of technologies being designed have both opportunities for security to be more effective, as well as new challenges that need to be addressed, particularly related to insider threats. Both Dr Peel and Dr Homan regularly share research findings and contribute to international education and training in nuclear security, including leading working groups for the International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN).
The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security, produced by Oxford University Press and edited by Professor Christopher Hobbs and Dr Sarah Tzinieris at King’s, offers the most comprehensive academic overview to date of the global nuclear security landscape. Bringing together over 60 contributors across six continents (including more than 20 scholars linked to King’s), the volume explores historical developments, emerging technologies, insider threats, governance gaps, cyber vulnerabilities and the evolving capabilities of malicious actors. Drawing on academic, policy and practitioner perspectives, the handbook serves as a landmark reference work and underscores the urgent need for strengthened international cooperation.
Ultimately, the promise of nuclear energy cannot be achieved without protecting it against actors who would abuse it to cause harm. With ambitious climate goals being set around the world, research like this from the School of Security Studies is a crucial reminder that the benefits of nuclear power can only be realised if its security challenges are awarded the same attention and global cooperation.