Trevor Findlay’s golden opportunity

While the spectacular vistas in the Gatineau hills attract hundreds of visitors each fall, Trevor Findlay can tell you that there’s no better place to experience the changing of the colours than in New England.  But in Findlay’s case, it’s not just because of the foliage.

On sabbatical from Carleton, Findlay, a full professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and Director of the Canadian Centre for Treaty Compliance,  is conducting research on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at Harvard University, having been awarded a joint fellowship with the International Security Program and the Project on Managing the Atom.  Both fellowships are part of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, located at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

“Being able to spend my sabbatical at Harvard, considered by many to be the best university in the world, is obviously a great opportunity,” says Findlay.

Findlay plans to take full advantage of this opportunity.  During in his time in Cambridge, he hopes to complete work on a two-year research project Strengthening and Reform of the IAEA, a joint report between CIGI and CCTC set for release later this year.

“The Belfer Center is the perfect place for me to be conducting research on the IAEA,” says Findlay.  “Not only does it have a wealth of longstanding in-house nuclear expertise in its Managing the Atom Project, but in addition is currently hosting veteran IAEA chief nuclear inspector Ollie Heinonen, who is proving to be a great resource.”

In addition to his work on the  IAEA report, Findlay plans to write a book about the IAEA that will examine the organization’s  role as a “nuclear watchdog” since the end of the Cold War, including the way it has handled the serious non-compliance cases of Iran and North Korea.

A leading expert on nuclear energy and security, Findlay is enjoying the opportunity to work closely with fellow colleagues in the field.  “… my work is complementary to that of Robert Brown of Temple University, also a fellow here, who is working on the application of international organizational theory to the IAEA.”

From all angles, Professor Findlay truly has been given a golden opportunity — in more ways than one.