Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

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NPTG 8559

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.
Subject:
Nonproliferatn&Terrorsm Stdies
Department:
Nonproliferatn&Terrorsm Stdies
Division:
Intl Policy & Management
Requirements Fulfilled:
Equivalent Courses:
IPOL 8559 *

Sections

Fall 2024 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-F24 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Fall 2023 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-F23 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Fall 2022 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-F22 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Spring 2022 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-S22 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Fall 2021 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-F21 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Spring 2021 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-S21 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Fall 2020 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-F20 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Fall 2019 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-F19 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Spring 2019 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-S19 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Fall 2018 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-F18 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Spring 2018 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-S18 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Fall 2017 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-F17 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Spring 2017 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-S17 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Fall 2016 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-F16 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Spring 2016 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-S16 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Fall 2015 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-F15 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Fall 2014 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-F14 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)

Fall 2013 - MIIS

NPTG8559A-F13 Lecture (Dalnoki-Veress, Bishop, Jackson)