Sunflower overlaying a nuclear explosion

Nuclear Politics 2024

Program Overview:

  • Location: Soka University of America (1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656)
  • Date: June 10 through June 14, each day from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
  • Accommodation: The selected participants will receive full accommodation at the campus residence hall and meal plans at the Soka Bistro.
  • Curriculum: The program curriculum consists of two parts, each one taking approximately two-and-half days
    • Part one: seminar-based sessions will be organized on historical, academic, strategic, and legal discussions about nuclear weapons. 
    • Part two: participants will engage in workshop-style simulation exercise and create their final projects in groups. During the exercises, the participants will be exposed to a wide range of initiatives and proposals for nuclear disarmament, including various nuclear risk reduction strategies in the context of potential use scenarios. The exercises will also help the participants explore other practical and urgent paths to reduce nuclear dangers today. The participants will then formulate their own proposals on how to make progress in nuclear disarmament and toward nuclear abolition.
  • Organizers: The summer program is a training workshop organized by SIGS staff, affiliates, and its student program assistants. Its content is not transferrable to academic units.

Nuclear Politics 2024’s learning objectives are to:

  • Critically analyze disarmament and non-proliferation through theoretical, legal, and historical perspectives
  • Identify current challenges and opportunities to realize a world free of nuclear weapons
  • Conceptualize and suggest the proper course of action at the local, regional, and global levels
  • Develop personal and leadership skills to work collaboratively toward the completion of a common project

Additional Information:

  • Applicants must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in the U.S., and must be 18 years or older.
  • Students of all academic backgrounds are eligible to apply.
  • Prior knowledge or experiences related to nuclear issues are preferred, but not required.
  • Willingness to fully and actively participate in all program activities is essential.
  • Willingness to take part in post-program networking activities is highly encouraged.
  • Application deadline is May 3, 2024
  • Only selected applicants will be invited for an interview via Zoom.
  • The participants will stay in one of the Residence Halls on SUA’s campus for the duration of the entire program. Check-in is on June 9 and check-out is June 14.
  • Each participant will get either a private room with a private bathroom or a private room with suite access to a bathroom.
  • Meal plans at the university dining hall, Soka Bistro, will be covered for the duration of the entire program.
  • Each participant is expected to arrange their own transportation to/from the SUA campus.
  • A parking pass is available upon request for the participants driving their personal vehicles.