University of Texas at Austin, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs

The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin opened in 1970 to train the next generation of public policy experts. This award supports analysis, publication, debate, and public education on weapons-useable material issues. The project aims to ensure that civilian applications of nuclear technology do not foster the spread of nuclear weapons to countries or terrorist groups.

The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Policy at the University of Texas at Austin is home to the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project, which engages in analysis, debate, and public education to ensure that civilian applications of nuclear technology do not foster the spread of nuclear weapons. This renewal award supports analysis and engagement to encourage informed choices about converting fuel for U.S. naval, research, and space reactors from highly enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium. In addition, the project applies lessons learned from past research on plutonium reprocessing to engage with audiences in China, Japan, and South Korea on this topic. The award aims to inform weapons-useable material policy in the United States and North East Asia in an effort to reduce nuclear risks.

The LBJ School of Public Policy at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) opened in 1970 as a school of public affairs in honor of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The school’s Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project engages in research, debate, and public education to ensure that civilian applications of nuclear technology do not foster the spread of nuclear weapons to states or terrorist groups. This award renews support for a research and public education project to encourage informed choices about converting naval reactor fuel from highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low-enriched uranium (LEU). In addition, the project includes case studies on past attempts to reprocess plutonium for fuel in nuclear power reactors. This work stream aims to inform the current debate on plutonium reprocessing in China, Japan, and South Korea, and train a new generation of experts on this topic in the United States.

The LBJ School of Public Policy at the University of Texas at Austin opened in 1970 as a school of public affairs in honor of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The school’s Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project engages in research, debate, and public education to ensure that civilian applications of nuclear technology do not foster the spread of nuclear weapons to states or terrorist groups. The award provides education to enable the U.S. government and the U.S. public to make informed choices about the importance to national and international security of converting naval reactors from highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel. Activities include research on the technical, economic, and political prospects of a U.S. decision to initiate development of an LEU advanced fuel system for naval propulsion reactors, publications, and meetings.

The LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin opened in 1970 in honor of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The school’s Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project engages in research, debate, and public education to ensure that civilian applications of nuclear technology do not foster the spread of nuclear weapons to states or terrorist groups. This grant would help establish the Paul Leventhal Fellowship Program, which aims to prepare students for leadership positions to reduce risks of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism. Funds would be used to help establish an endowment, which would provide fellowship opportunities for promising nuclear policy students.