Physicists Coalition Colloquium – MIT Laboratory for Nuclear Science (LNS)

Abstract

The immense risks nuclear weapons pose to all humanity are still very much with us. The destructive power in the thousands of nuclear weapons in existence threaten human civilization as we know it. In fact, trends indicate the risks are acute and growing: hard-won arms control agreements are being abandoned, nuclear weapons-possessing states are spending enormous resources to refurbish existing nuclear weapons and to develop new types of strategic weapons, and nuclear-armed nations continue to be drawn closer to direct conflict. Many communities continue to bear the damaging health effects of nuclear weapons testing and production. Physicists have historically constructively engaged policymakers and their communities to help reduce nuclear dangers. Leo Szilard took this role very seriously and pioneered innovative ways to make policy change and work toward a safer world. This talk will set the context of the current nuclear crisis and discuss effective ways that physicists today can get involved in mitigating nuclear risks and creating a healthier and safer future

About the Speaker 

Dr. Laura Grego is a senior scientist and the research director of the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, where she has worked at the intersection of science and public policy, in particular nuclear weapons, missile defense, and space security issues, for twenty years. She recently completed a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship at the Laboratory for Nuclear Security and Policy at MIT. She received her PhD. in experimental physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1999, and BSc. degrees in physics and astronomy from the University of Michigan in 1992.

She has authored numerous articles and reports on security issues, and frequently gives talks to expert and non-expert audiences and serves as a subject matter expert for the media. She meets regularly with U.S. government staff and officials and international diplomats to provide scientific information and advocate for better policies for a healthy, safe, sustainable future.

Grego serves on American Physical Society’s Panel on Public Affairs as the representative of the Forum on Physics and Society. She supports efforts to engage scientists more substantially in nuclear policy issues, including serving on the steering committee of the APS’s Innovation Grantee project the Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction and is a recipient of the 2023 APS Leo Szilard Lectureship Award. She is an associate editor for the journal Science and Global Security, and a 2021 Fellow of the APS.

This is a hybrid event, available to both in-person and virtual attendance.

Virtual attendance is accessible via Zoom.