Project on Nuclear Issues

Bomber over the Pacific
The Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) aims to build and sustain a networked community of young nuclear experts from the military, national laboratories, industry, academia, and policy communities.

About the Project on Nuclear Issues

Addressing an increasingly complex array of nuclear weapons challenges will require a solid foundation of expertise across numerous sectors. Because most of these challenges are long-term, the Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) places a special emphasis on building and sustaining a vibrant community of young nuclear experts from the military, national laboratories, industry, academia, and the policy community. PONI maintains an enterprise-wide membership base, hosts four major conferences and several smaller events each year, maintains an online blog, holds live debates on critical nuclear weapons issues, runs a six-month academic program for young experts, and distributes bi-weekly news and event announcements to members.

Announcements

Membership

PONI formally involves the U.S., UK and France, but also includes members from all over the world. Membership is open to anyone working on or studying nuclear weapons issues. Members receive a bi-weekly News Brief along with special invitations to PONI conferences, live debates, and other events.

PONI Membership Application

 

  • PONI Debates the Issues

    Online blog pushes the debate forward with daily posts, original contributions by members, and guest commentary from senior experts.

  • Conference Series

    Each year PONI hosts four conferences that bring together people from across the nuclear enterprise to discuss a range of nuclear issues.

  • Nuclear Scholars Initiative

    Brings a select group of graduate students and young professionals to CSIS for a program consisting of six daylong workshops with senior experts from the field.

  • PDI Live Debates

    The debate series, an extension of the PDI blog, features top experts debating controversial nuclear issues one-on-one.

  • Reference Desk

    The PONI Reference Desk is dedicated to keeping an informative and up to date catalogue of relevant nuclear information.

  • Nuclear Careers

    Listing of employment opportunities and resources for jobseekers interested in nuclear science and policy.

  • PONI Member Access

    Access to presentations and materials from PONI conferences and to the membership directory.

  • U.S.-UK Nuclear Cooperation After 50 Years

    CSIS commemorated the 50th anniversary of nuclear cooperation between the U.S. and U.K. with a volume of selected essays and oral histories.

Blog

  • Nov 6, 2009

    FISSILE MATERIAL
    Iran tested advanced nuclear warhead design – secret report
    Guardian by Julian Borger

    Iran holding up nuclear deal with demand for reactor fuel, diplomat says
    WP by Glenn Kessler

    Bunkers or Breakthrough?
    NYT by Roger Cohen

    Passing the buck on North Korea 
    Asia Times by Donald Kirk

  • Nov 5, 2009

    Here's the final resolution and agenda for tonight's de-alerting debate between John Steinbruner and Walt Slocombe.  You can still RSVP by contacting Chris Jones at: cjones@csis.org.  We look forward to seeing you tonight.

    PONI Live Debate: De-Alerting
    November 5, 2009, 6:00-8:00 P.M.
    B1 Conference Center, CSIS

    Resolved: that the United States should pursue a negotiated agreement with Russia to de-alert each country's nuclear arsenal by implementing reversible physical changes to substantially increase the time required to launch

    6:00-6:20     OPENING RECEPTION AND WELCOME

    6:20-7:30     THE DE-ALERTING DEBATE
    Affirmative: John D. Steinbruner, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Maryland
    Negative: Walter B. Slocombe, Former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy
    Moderator: John K. Warden, Project on Nuclear Issues, CSIS

    6:20-6:35   Opening Statements
    6:35-6:50   Cross-Examination and Moderator Questions
    6:50-7:20   Audience Question and Answer
    7:20-7:30   Closing Statements

    7:30-8:00     CLOSING RECEPTION