ENGR 103: Introduction to Engineering in Practice:
Nuclear Safeguards and Nonproliferation
Fall Semester Course
Overview:
Whether it be another North Korean nuclear test, Iran's clandestine uranium enrichment facilities, or
militants someday gaining access to a state's nuclear weapon, nuclear nonproliferation remains
important and high profile two decades after the end of the cold war. This course provides an overview
of this field by looking back at the development of the original atomic weapons, showing how the
civilian nuclear fuel cycle can be misused to make weapons grade materials, and describing how the
international community monitors civilian programs and promotes the complete disarmament of
nuclear weapons. The course especially looks at the technologies, such as cameras, lasers, and radiation
detectors, that are used for monitoring nuclear facilities.
As part of the course, students will form teams to complete a semester project. The project can be
about any technical aspects of nuclear nonproliferation. The goal is that the students find a topic that
they find interesting, to learn as much about it as they can, and to share that knowledge with the rest of
the class. There will be a 15 minute presentation and a formal report due at the end of the semester.
Attendance:
Since the course is lecture based, students are expected to be in every class. If the number of
unexcused absences, no proper documentation of an illness or university related travel, exceeds three
days, the final grade will be docked.
Textbook:
Grading:
There are no required textbooks for the course, but we
consider the books below to be excellent resources:
Homework: 60%
Semester Project: 40%
Nuclear Safeguards, Security and Nonproliferation:
James Doyle - ISBN-13: 978-0750686730
A
AB+
B
C
D
The Politics and Technology of Nuclear Proliferation
Robert F. Mozley - ISBN-13: 978-0295977263
87% — 100%
85% — < 87%
83% — < 85%
70% — < 83%
55% — < 70%
40% — < 55%
Academic Integrity:
Students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity. A student guide on the
subject can be found at: http://www.purdue.edu/ODOS/osrr/integrity.htm. Work found to be in
violation of this policy will receive a 0 and the case may be forwarded onto the administration.
Emergency Procedure:
In the event of a major campus emergency, changes may be necessary to course requirements,
deadlines, and grading policies. Any such announcements will be made through email.
Course Outline:
Nuclear Technology
Course Introduction. What nuclear nonproliferation is and why it is important.
The history of the Manhattan Project
The civilian nuclear fuel cycle and its proliferation risk: Part 1
The civilian nuclear fuel cycle and its proliferation risk: Part 2
Form Project Teams – Identify an area of interest for the class project, due in Week 5
Nuclear Policy
The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the IAEA, and the Additional Protocol
Bilateral treaties between the Russia and the United States: Nuclear arms control and
related programs
Technical Safeguards
What is radiation and where does it come from?
Gamma spectroscopy and neutron measurements: The eyes of nuclear nonproliferation
Radiation laboratory visit
Overview of the equipment and techniques used in nuclear safeguards
Nuclear Nonproliferation in the World
Overview of the DPRK's nuclear weapons program
Overview of Iran's nuclear program
Presentations
Presentation Day 1
Presentation Day 2
Presentation Day 3 & Semester Wrap Up