Speaker
Ms
S.K. Connelly
(U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
Description
“Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development: Transferring Knowledge to the Next Generation” will directly support the objectives of Conference Topic #6, Nuclear Forensics Capacity Building, Sub-topic 6.3, Education and Development of Expertise. Since 2008, the National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program (NNFEDP) has served as the comprehensive U.S. Government effort to grow and sustain the uniquely qualified technical expertise required to execute the nation’s nuclear forensics mission. The NNFEDP has created a vibrant academic pathway over the past five years from undergraduate to post-doctorate study in nuclear and geochemical sciences directly relevant to nuclear forensics, supporting over 250 students and faculty in partnership with 11 U.S. national laboratories and 23 universities. Through its fellowship, scholarship, junior faculty, and education development initiatives, the program links next generation scientists with technical experts at the labs for practical research experiences and individual mentoring to facilitate critical knowledge transfer and to establish a seamless pipeline from academia into an attractive career in nuclear forensics. The NNFEDP provides an active and practical example of how to transfer and sustain nuclear forensics knowledge and expertise to the next generation of scientists – a major challenge facing the international nuclear security community today.
Primary author
Ms
S.K. Connelly
(U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
Co-author
Mr
W.B. Daitch
(U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
