Biography
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. He has served as Programme Director for the UK’s Nuclear Security Culture Programme (NSCP) since its inception in 2014.
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).
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)
Teaching and Supervision
- Science and Security of Nuclear and Biological Weapons (MA)
- Current Issues in Science and Security (MA)
Professor Hobbs is willing to provide PhD supervision in any of my areas of research interest.
Publications
- ‘Exploring the Human Dimension of Nuclear Security: The History, Theory and Practice of Security Culture’, Non-Proliferation Review (online, June 2022)
- ‘Security Under Strain? Protecting Nuclear Materials During the Coronavirus Pandemic’, RUSI Journal, Vol. 166, Issue 2, pp. 40-50 (June 2021)
- ‘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.