“The workshop was designed to help instructors prepare course materials related to weapons of mass destruction and nonproliferation,” Voelker noted. Nearly a dozen experts on chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons discussed issues facing the United States and the world community because of the proliferation of these weapons.

“Particular attention was given to the development of interdisciplinary courses that integrate the perspectives of science and social science,” the BSC Associate Professor of Political Science added. Selected to attend the five-day workshop through a competitive application process, Voelker will incorporate the program’s material into a capstone Social Science course at BSC.

“It was particularly interesting to learn that individuals like J. Robert Oppenheimer, who played a central role in the development of the atomic bomb, later had second thoughts about its use,” Voelker stated. “There has been renewed interest in the events surrounding this period of recent history. It will be challenging and rewarding to include this material in the ‘Seminar in Social Science’ course next semester.”

August 29, 2005