“New career review: Nuclear weapons safety and security” by Benjamin Hilton, 80000_Hours

Note: this post is a (minorly) edited version of a new 80,000 Hours career review. In 1995, Jayantha Dhanapala chaired a pivotal conference that led to the indefinite extension of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. This meant committing 185 nations to never possessing nuclear weapons[1] Dhanapala's path started at age 17, when — after winning a competition with an essay about his hopes for a more peaceful world — he was flown from Sri Lanka to the US to meet Senator John F. Kennedy. That meeting led to a career in diplomacy (he had previously wanted to be a journalist), during which he focused on keeping the world safe from nuclear threats. His story shows that with dedication, persistence, and a little luck, it's possible to contribute to reducing the dangers of nuclear weapons and making the world a safer place.Summary. Nuclear weapons continue to pose an existential [...] ---Outline:(01:26) Recommended(01:39) Why working to prevent nuclear conflict is high-impact(03:11) What goals should we be aiming towards?(07:37) What does this path involve?(08:38) Working in the US government(14:14) Other governments and international institutions(15:43) Research(18:48) Communication and advocacy(20:25) Working to build the field of nuclear risk reduction(21:11) Example people(21:14) Joan Rohlfing(21:45) Recommended organisations for reducing nuclear risk(24:33) Learn more about nuclear weapons safety and securityThe original text contained 5 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: May 16th, 2024 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/h7TQgEf9i6aXrKt4F/new-career-review-nuclear-weapons-safety-and-security --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.