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David Smith

David Smith

Visiting Senior Research Fellow

Research interests

  • Conflict
  • Security

Biography

David Kenneth Smith is a Visiting Senior Research Fellow in the Department of War Studies. His work focuses on technical outreach to address the threat from nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control. He regularly participates in forums and outreach sponsored by the Centre for Science & Security Studies at King's College London, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory USA and AWE - Atomic Weapons Establishment UK. He is a emeritus member of the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (ITWG) where he served in executive roles for more than two decades.

From 2010 to 2020, David served as the Nuclear Security Coordinator (Forensics) [P5] in the Division of Nuclear Security at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria. There, he led the IAEA radiological crime scene response and nuclear forensic science team. From 1987 to 2010, David held various leadership and technical staff positions in nuclear test, nuclear security and international security engagement programmes at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory USA.

He graduated with an AB and departmental honours in geological sciences from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York USA in 1979 and a MSc in geochemistry from the University of California, Riverside, California USA in 1982. In 1986, David was elected to membership in Sigma Xi, the international scientific honour society. He is also a member of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).

Research

  • Forensic science in support of nuclear security investigations.
  • The incorporation and persistence of radiogenic isotopes, stable isotopes and trace elements as nuclear forensics signatures of the origin and history of nuclear and radioactive materials.
  • Field based investigations of the fate and transport of anthropogenic radionuclides in the environment.

Publications

News

King's academics publish the definitive book on nuclear security with Oxford University Press

With over 60 contributors spanning six continents, and coverage of historical, current and emerging issues, The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security brings the...

Oxford Academic logo

Events

25MarNuclear horizon

Nuclear forensics: Meeting nuclear security needs in a time of challenge

March's monthly webinar focuses on the specialist area of nuclear forensics.

Please note: this event has passed.

News

King's academics publish the definitive book on nuclear security with Oxford University Press

With over 60 contributors spanning six continents, and coverage of historical, current and emerging issues, The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security brings the...

Oxford Academic logo

Events

25MarNuclear horizon

Nuclear forensics: Meeting nuclear security needs in a time of challenge

March's monthly webinar focuses on the specialist area of nuclear forensics.

Please note: this event has passed.