The Introduction to Arms Control Course at PNNL features classroom lectures, hands-on demonstration of verification equipment, tours of nuclear facilities, and interactive exercises, including a mock treaty negotiation and verification exercise.
Topics and Activities
Below is a schedule of the daily topics and activies planned during the course.
Day 1
Fundamentals of Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control
- Baseline Knowledge Survey
- Introduction to Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Security Enterprise
- Lunch – Group Activity and Ice Breakers
- Technical Aspects of Nuclear Weapons
- Legal Frameworks of Arms Control
- Core Treaties in Force
- Policy Frameworks for Arms Control
Day 2
Arms Control Essentials and Treaty Process
- Treaty Making Steps and Enforcement Mechanisms
- Implementation of International Law into Domestic Systems
- U.S. Interagency Process and Role of ONV
- Introduce TTX
- Lunch – Career Speakers
- Treaty Negotiation TTX
- Exercise Hotwash
Day 3
Technical Aspects of Arms Control
- Trust but Verify
- Detection Basics
- Verification Fundamentals
- Lunch – Career Speakers
- Verification Equipment
- Hands-On Technology Demonstrations
Day 4
Broadening Perspectives
- Arms Control Tour
- Lunch – Career Speakers
- International Organizations and Arms Control
- Global Perspectives on Arms Control
- Verification Mechanisms TTX
Day 5
Current Challenges and Looking Forward
- Current Landscape of Arms Control Agreements and Future Outlook
- Current M&V Research
- Lunch
- Technical Challenges and Needs
- Career Panel
- Post-course knowledge survey