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Princeton SPIA First Stop on International Tour of a Provocative Exhibit on Nuclear Weapons: the bomb
The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) is proud to announce it will be the first university stop for the groundbreaking installation the bomb, which will be showcased at SPIA’s Bernstein Gallery from September 19 to October 25, 2024, as part of the exhibit “Close Encounters: Facing the Bomb in a New Nuclear Age.” The exhibit is a centerpiece of SPIA's celebration of the 50th anniversary of its renowned Science and Global Security (SGS) program, a leading voice in disarmament science and policy research.
"We are immensely proud of the Science and Global Security program’s 50 years of expertise and leadership in nuclear disarmament and policy, and its work to create a safer and more peaceful world,” said Amaney A. Jamal, dean of the School. “Hosting this exhibit underscores Princeton SPIA’s commitment to fostering critical conversations on global security challenges."
Created by Smriti Keshari and Eric Schlosser ’81, author of “Command and Control,” a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in history, the bomb is an immersive, thought-provoking installation that explores the global and historical impact of nuclear weapons. Unfolding across forty-five screens, the bomb immerses viewers in the story of nuclear weapons, from the first nuclear test and subsequent use against Japan by the United States in 1945, to today’s arms race. It illuminates the thousands of nuclear weapons—held only by nine states—on land, underground, and at sea, many ready for launch.
Inspired by nuclear weapon command-and-control centers, the bomb’s design evokes the technological fallibility of such systems, the devastating consequences of errors and malfunctions, and the inherent impossibility of ever fully controlling these machines.
Visitors to the exhibit can expect a deeply moving experience that raises critical questions about the role of nuclear weapons in shaping global history and the future.
Eight infographic panels and two short films produced by SGS will also be part of the exhibit. “Plan A” is a four-minute film that features a realistic simulation for a plausible escalating war between the U.S. and Russia that results in over 90 million deaths in a matter of a few hours. First released in 2017, the film has generated renewed interest since the Russia-Ukraine War began in 2022. “We Must Speak Boldly – Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction” is a six-minute film that highlights SGS’s efforts to build a community of physicists who are concerned about nuclear weapons.
Event details: The opening of this special exhibition will take place on September 19 and will feature the 2024 Bruce Blair Memorial Lecture panel discussion with Annie Jacobsen ’89, Smriti Keshari, and Eric Schlosser ’81. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
“Princeton is a perfect place to begin this tour. The beginnings of nuclear weapons started with Albert Einstein, who was in Princeton when he wrote a letter to the president about the possibility of such weapons. Today, it's a much more complex nuclear arms race,” Schlosser said. “I'm really concerned, and I hope that people who are of a generation that can actually do something about it become concerned as well."
“I'm really excited to bring the bomb to Princeton. It's so important to bring it in front of students, academics, and people who are going to have a role in shaping what the future of nuclear weapons development and strategy looks like," Keshari said.
Founded in 1974, the Science and Global Security (SGS) program at Princeton SPIA has long been a leader in addressing global security challenges. The program combines scientific research with rigorous policy analysis to advance disarmament, arms control, and the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. Its work has helped shape critical international policies and fostered collaboration between governments, civil society, and scientific communities worldwide.
From advising global leaders to training the next generation of security experts, SGS has played an integral role in advancing nuclear disarmament, reducing nuclear risks, and promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
“This is the beginning of a year of activities marking 50 years of work by SGS,” said Zia Mian, SGS Co-Director and senior research scholar. “The exhibition gives the Princeton community a moment when they can grapple with how they feel and think about the existence of nuclear weapons and the dangers they pose. As scholars, we want everybody to have the right to make choices about these weapons.”
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For the media: For inquiries, interview requests, and further details on the exhibit and the Science and Global Security program’s 50th anniversary, please contact David Mayorga, Associate Dean for Public Affairs and Communications, at dmayorga@princeton.edu.