I spent the Summer at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a non-governmental organization devoted to non-proliferation and education of the public on the threats surrounding nuclear weapons and improper use of nuclear power. I was a member of the International Fuel Cycle Strategies Team, where I was able to work on numerous small projects associated with countries developing new nuclear programs. I worked on a larger scale project which aimed to identify the shortcomings and gaps in the international fuel fabrication market. With issues identified, I provided technical advice and potential solutions to prevent a loss of fuel supply to future nuclear power facilities.

I also had the opportunity to work on a small team devoted to researching the potential affects of multiple nuclear weapons usage. Our goal was to collect information to further educate the public on the harmful outcomes of nuclear weapons usage as it pertained to nuclear winter and firestorms.

Much of the work I did this Summer was refreshing and informative, and it provided an excellent opportunity to utilize the technical skills MIT has taught me in the public policy world. Some of my advice and ideas were even forwarded to and approved by the CEO of NTI, Secretary Ernest J. Moniz. I learned a large amount about the gaps in communication between the technical world and the policy world, and I hope to bridge those gaps while working in the future.