NSSPI Courses
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Critical Analysis in Nuclear Security Data

This is a project-based course which studies the analysis of nuclear security events, threats, and data. Students are each assigned a project which requires an analysis of data for a hypothetical case of interest to national security. The course focuses on detailed technical analysis using diverse datasets and country/organization profiles. These dataset may include overhead imagery; mass and gamma-ray spectroscopy from air, biota, soil, and water samples; press reports; watchdog group reports; historical details; seismic data; ultrasound data; nondestructive radiation measurements of materials; destructive analysis of materials; export control information; and safeguards accounting data. The students are divided into small teams and develop their analysis of their case over the semester by learning how these analyses are performed in professional environments. The students present their results on several occasions throughout the semester and the audience will serve as the "Red Team" for the analysis. Quantitative and qualitative analysis are developed. The following techniques are discussed and used where applicable: critical success factors, competitor profiling, SWOT analysis, and gap analysis. Also included are presentations on recognizing the interaction between the collection and analysis phases, methods to analyze creatively, how to employ inductive and deductive reasoning in analysis, how to recognize gaps and blind-spots and ways to determine to cease analysis. This course serves as the capstone course for the degree program.