Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

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MIIS 8503

Science & Technology for NPTS

Science & Technology for NPTS
This course provides students with a solid foundation in scientific and technical fundamentals critical to nonproliferation and terrorism policy analysis. Such policy analyses often require strong foundational knowledge of basic scientific and technical concepts in order to understand, create, and inform policy decisions. The course begins with an introduction to science and the scientific method and then evolves into the three main areas: biological weapons, chemical weapons, nuclear weapons and relevant technologies. Topics covered in the biological component include fundamental concepts related to microorganisms, DNA, RNA, proteins, and processes of infection and disease. Topics covered in the chemistry component include fundamental concepts related to atomic structure and the periodic table, chemical structural representations, functional groups, reactivity, toxicity, as well as modern separation, purification and analytic techniques commonly used for chemical species. Applications of the fundamental concepts in the first two topics are further developed in relation to features of chemical and biological weapons and warfare, including agents, delivery methods and effects. Topics covered in the nuclear component part of the course includes radioactivity, uranium, nuclear weapons, radiation detection instrumentation and applications, environmental plumes, and various instrumentation and analysis techniques. Upon completion of this course students will have a deeper appreciation for the debate on various verification solutions that have been proposed for compliance under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC), Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and nuclear treaties. (Open to Juniors and Seniors only) The dates of this course are SEPTEMBER 6 through DECEMBER 16.
Subject:
Middlebury Institute
Department:
Nonproliferatn&Terrorsm Stdies
Division:
Intl Policy & Management
Requirements Fulfilled:

Sections

Fall 2024, MIIS courses in College Term

MIIS8503A-F24 Lecture

Fall 2023, MIIS courses in College Term

MIIS8503A-F23 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Fall 2022, MIIS courses in College Term

MIIS8503A-F22 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Spring 2021, MIIS courses in College Term

MIIS8503A-S21 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Fall 2020

MIIS8503A-F20 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress)