Public Policy and Nuclear Threats
IGCC’s signature Policy and Nuclear Threats (PPNT) program has for two decades provided a diverse range of graduate students and young professionals the knowledge and analytic tools they need to contribute to the future of U.S. nuclear policy. With a focus on understanding how international public policies can be designed and implemented to reduce the risk of weapons of mass destruction, PPNT plays an essential role in training the next generation of nuclear policy experts. PPNT offers participants an opportunity to learn about the technical, political, strategic, and ethical aspects of nuclear weapons from some of the world’s foremost nuclear policy experts. The program prepares future policy leaders through two primary activities: the summer training program for graduate students and young professionals, and a competitive paid internship for PPNT graduates at an NNSA nuclear laboratory over the subsequent summer.
PPNT Internship
The PPNT National Laboratory Internship Program is a unique opportunity to gain valuable experience in nuclear security and policy research at a National Laboratory. Hosted at the Center for National Security and International Studies at Los Alamos National Laboratory, this eight-week program offers participants hands-on experience and exposure to areas critical to the nuclear security mission. For more details and application info, click here.
PPNT Boot Camp
The PPNT Boot Camp, a summer workshop-in-residence at IGCC, features lectures, discussions, and debates with distinguished researchers, academics, policy officials, and operational specialists from leading universities, the national laboratories, international organizations, and government agencies. Topics range from current nuclear threats, to international safeguards and nonproliferation strategies. Support for this program is provided by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration.
Applications for the next PPNT Boot Camp are now open. Details and deadline information is available below.
2026 PPNT BOOT CAMP
The 2026 Public Policy and Nuclear Threats boot camp was held at the UC San Diego campus in La Jolla, California from July 5 – July 15, 2025. Speakers included Thom Mason, Kim Budil, Mike Albertson, Brad Roberts, Heather Williams, and other experts ranging from the fields of politics to nuclear engineering. This year’s 32 participants were selected from a high number of applicants and come from a range of geographic and academic backgrounds, including the fields of political science, nuclear engineering, physics, chemistry, and international security.
PPNT BOOT CAMP ARCHIVE
View past PPNT Boot Camp sessions, including past agenda, speakers, and participants.
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