The Science, Mathematics and Engineering Division offers two series of free science presentations each semester: monthly Modesto Area Partners in Science (MAPS) programs and weekly Science Colloquiums.

The next MAPS presentation of the Spring Semester will be “Nuclear Proliferation in a High-Technology World” on Friday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m. in Forum 110 on East Campus.  During his presentation, Dr. John Field will examine several of the remaining technology barriers to the development of nuclear weapons in the context of the current global nonproliferation regime.

Nuclear weapons are much easier to develop than in the 1940's. After reviewing the current status of nuclear forces in the world, he will introduce some of the remaining technology barriers faced by a new nuclear weapons state in acquiring these weapons with an eye toward the situation in North Korea and Iran. Nuclear fuel reprocessing of plutonium and gas centrifugation of uranium will be examined. Field will also briefly consider the challenge of using explosives to compress the nuclear material in a bomb and review the necessary diagnostic and dual-use technologies for weapons development. Advanced weapons such as those developed by the United States are then briefly considered. Finally, he will talk about some of the likely consequences of use of these weapons.

Field achieved his Ph.D. from Stanford University in the general areas of atomic physics and quantum optics.  His current research interests are on certain features of US nuclear weapons that have increased their complexity and may necessitate refurbishment, replacement or redesign of the warheads due to increasing uncertainty in weapon performance as they age.

For more information about the MAPS program and their presentations, visit the website at: http://virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/MAPS/ or contact MJC's Science, Mathematics and Engineering Division Office at 575-6172.

The Science Colloquiums are presented each Tuesday, 2:20 - 3:10 p.m. in Science 213 on East Campus, and topics have include solar cooking, health careers, global population growth and global climate change to name a few.  The topics of upcoming Science Colloquiums are available online under the Calendar of Events.