Barbara Fisher, a graduate student with the Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute (NSSPI), was awarded a $1,000 fellowship by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) to investigate the nuclear security education opportunities across the United States. She has written a paper titled “Powering the Future of Nuclear Security through Regional Programs,” which surveys nuclear security education opportunities across the United States and focuses on the necessity of regional programs for training the future generation of subject matter experts in this area. In particular, the paper discusses university course offerings and the regional availability of nuclear security training programs. Fisher’s paper will be presented at the 2017 American Nuclear Society Annual Meeting next month in San Francisco as part of a larger discussion on the subject of advancing nonproliferation and nuclear policy education in U.S. nuclear science and engineering programs. This panel discussion is being organized by FAS President Charles D. Ferguson.
Fisher is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering at Texas A&M University. Her research work with Dr. Craig Marianno, NSSPI deputy director and assistant professor of nuclear engineering, focuses on the research and development of the Radiation Integrated Circuit. Her role in this project is in charged and neutral particle detection. Fisher graduated with a bachelor’s degree in applied physics from Stockton University in New Jersey and completed work for her master’s degree in health physics from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She has also worked at Argonne National Laboratory for three years.