Professor Christopher Hobbs

Christopher Hobbs is Professor in Science and International Security within the Department of War Studies (DWS) and Director of the King’s Institute for Applied Security Studies (KIASS). A scientist by training he holds a PhD in physics from the University of London and a MPhys from Oxford University.

His research focuses on bridging the gap between policy and practice in the areas of nuclear security, non-proliferation and open source intelligence (OSINT). Taking an interdisciplinary approach using tools and frameworks from the natural and social sciences, he has sought to explore the implementation of security at the operational level. His work has involved frequent collaboration with practitioners, in international organisations, government and industry, both to gather research data for his research and to ensure real-world impact.

Professor Hobbs’ work is supported by a number of large grants from funders that have included the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the US State Department and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).

He is a member of the Executive Advisory Board for the International Nuclear Security Forum (INSF), Associate Fellow of Advance HE and former Chair of the International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN). From 2014 to 2022 he served as Programme Director for the UK’s Nuclear Security Culture Programme (NSCP).

Research

• Nuclear Security
• WMD Proliferation and Counter-proliferation
• CBRN Terrorism and Counter-terrorism
• Insider Threats
• Security Culture
• Nuclear Smuggling and Radiation Detection for Border Monitoring
• Open source intelligence (OSINT)

Recent Teaching and Supervision

• Science and Security of Nuclear and Biological Weapons (MA)
• Current Issues in Science and Security (MA)
• CBRN Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism (MA)

Professor Hobbs is willing to provide PhD supervision in any of his areas of research interest.

Selected Publications 

• ‘The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security’, Oxford University Press; Oxford (22^nd May 2023)
• ‘The United Kingdom’s Transition from Prescriptive to Outcome-Focused Nuclear Security Regulation’ The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security, (22^nd May 2023)
• ‘Exploring the Human Dimension of Nuclear Security: The History, Theory and Practice of Security Culture’, Non-Proliferation Review (online, June 2022)
• ‘Data Science in Support of Radiation Detection for Border Monitoring: An Exploratory Study’, Science and Global Security, Vol. 28, Issue 1, pp. 28-47 (February 2020).
• ‘Nuclear Security Briefing Book: 2019 Edition’, (King’s College London, ISBN: 978-1-908951-26-7, September 2019)
• ‘Combating nuclear smuggling? Exploring drivers and challenges to detecting nuclear and radiological materials within the maritime environment’, Non-Proliferation Review, Vol. 26, Issue 1-2, pp. 83-104 (June 2019)
• ‘The Role of Trust in Verifying Nuclear Disarmament’ (Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 978-1-137-36980-2, Feb 2018)
• ‘Fusing algorithms and analysts: open-source intelligence in the age of ‘Big Data’, Intelligence and National Security, Vol. 33, No. 3, p. 391-406 (Feb 2018)
• ‘From Communities of Interest to Communities of Practice: The Role and Impact of Professional Development in Nuclear Security Education’, British Journal of Education Studies, Vol. 66, Issue 1, p. 87-107, (Feb 2018)
• ‘Nuclear Terrorism and Virtual Risk: Implication for Prediction and the Utility of Models’, European Journal of International Security, Vol. 2, Issue 2, pp. 203-222 (July, 2017)

Please see Professor Hobbs' PURE profile for a full list of publications.