The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) developed the Critical Issues Forum (CIF) to increase awareness of disarmament and nonproliferation issues and to engage and recruit the next generation of nonproliferation specialists. Specifically, CIF is designed to involve pre-college high school students and their teachers in issues of proliferation and control of weapons of mass destruction.
This year, Cushing was invited along with several schools from the East Coast (including Choate Rosemary Hall) to participate in the 2009/2010 series based on assessing the impact nuclear weapons have had on shaping international relations during the past 60 years and what possibilities exist in eliminating nuclear weapons as a component of international defensive strategies and political tactics.
Over 27 schools participated including 10 from Russia. Each school was required to produce three research papers known as Benchmarks. These papers would be referred and vetted by experts from the Monterey Institute and then published. We have accomplished these goals producing outstanding pieces of research. The papers contain sophisticated analysis based on a strict application of referred cites and carefully crafted prose. These Cushing students are now published authors – quite a feat!
Finally, a select number of the Cushing team traveled to Monterey to present their work in a creative production. Our film won an award for Excellence, and we received much praise from our peers for the quality of our film – particularly noteworthy as it was our first experience with this project. Click here for more information on the forum; click here to view the students' film.
Our team included:
Patrick Depres-Gallagher
MaryCate Farwell
Minwoo Kim
Andrew Trexler
Katie Kasper
Devon Akers
Marc Ernestus
Zach Woolever
Yukyung Lee
David Shields- Faculty Supervisor
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