On 18 March 2014, eight graduate students from the Sam Nunn Security Program (SNSP) along with SNSP Director, Nunn School Professor Sy Goodman, and Associate Director, Assistant Professor Margaret E. Kosal, met with the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, Dr. Wayne Clough.

The Smithsonian Secretary and the SNSP students discussed the origin and history of the Institute, its current mission, the role of the Smithsonian and applied science in forensics (yes, there is a group at the Smithsonian like that portrayed in the television show “Bones,”), the role of science for diplomacy and enabling access where other parts of the US Government may be challenged to reach, and expanding access to Smithsonian research materials through digital endeavors.

As part of their year-long seminar and fellowship, a select group of graduate students from the Colleges of Engineering, Sciences, and Computing spend a week in Washington, D.C., as part of an in-depth opportunity to interact with and better understand the policy-making process, along with the role and challenges of being a scientist or engineer involved in policy creation, implementation, and execution.

The Sam Nunn Security Program is currently recruiting for its next class of SNSP Fellows; more information including an application can be found on-line at http://cistp.gatech.edu/programs/sam-nunn-security-program/application. The application deadline is Monday, 31 March 2014.