Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
Photo: The George Washington University Law School.
The IAEA in collaboration with George Washington University Law School is launching a Summer School on the international legal frameworks for the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
This course will expand educational opportunities in nuclear law at a pivotal moment when more and more countries are turning to nuclear power to address energy security. Nuclear programmes require more than technology and infrastructure; they also require an advanced legal architecture and professionals to build and maintain it.
The joint initiative builds upon the IAEA Partnership Programme on Nuclear Law launched by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi to increase educational and professional development opportunities for students and aspiring professionals in international and national nuclear law. The Summer School will bring together world-class expertise from around the globe in a two-week virtual programme scheduled for 16 to 25 June 2026.
In announcing the initiative, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that “the quality of nuclear law education today will directly affect the quality of our nuclear legal framework in the future. By strengthening legal education now, we are investing in the infrastructure that will support nuclear energy for decades to come.”
Dean Dayna Bowen Matthew, the Dean of the George Washington University Law School, noted, “GW Law is proud to contribute to this essential work, which is fundamentally tied to our institutional history. From the moment nuclear fission was announced on our campus, GW has played a pivotal role in teaching nuclear law since 1954.”
IAEA Director General Mariano Grossi at the signing of the collaboration with George Washington University Law School on 9 December 2025. (Photo. M.Magnaye / IAEA).
The Legal Foundation of Nuclear Power
Nuclear law often operates behind the scenes, yet it provides the foundation that makes nuclear power possible. It creates the legal foundation for safety and security measures, safeguards against misuse, and liability frameworks throughout the entire lifecycle of nuclear facilities. Without these legal frameworks, even the most advanced technology cannot be deployed safely and securely. The field bridges international governance, national legislation and highly technical standards— an intersection that makes nuclear law both essential and complex.
The Summer School: What to Expect
Daily sessions are designed to transform how students understand nuclear energy from a legal perspective. The first week lays the groundwork by introducing the international legal architecture, key institutions and the core instruments that govern nuclear activities. The second week focuses on cutting-edge topics such as small modular reactors, fusion energy, space applications, maritime uses and the intricate legal considerations of financing and contracting nuclear projects.
Host Institution Background
GW’s foundational involvement in the nuclear field makes it a well-positioned partner for the Summer School, the first course of its kind. In 1939, George Washington University hosted the Fifth Washington Conference on Theoretical Physics, where physicist Niels Bohr first publicly announced the discovery of nuclear fission on 26 January 1939. This pivotal event marked the beginning of the “atomic age” and was commemorated with a plaque at GW in 1945. Passage of the USA’s Atomic Energy Act in 1954 marked the transition of nuclear power from military to civilian uses, in part by breaking the government monopoly over the technology and enabling private ownership and innovation. In response to this global shift, GW Law recognized the urgent need for a specialized legal discipline to govern this powerful new technology. Consequently, GW Law began teaching nuclear law in the 1954-55 academic year, becoming a pioneer in the field and establishing a legacy of expertise that continues today.
John Lach, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs signs the partnership agreement.
Eligibility
The program targets graduate law students from IAEA member countries, with limited places reserved for students in related technical disciplines such as engineering and physics.
Participants who complete the rigorous programme will earn a joint certificate from the IAEA and GW Law School. Applications will open in the New Year. Detailed information will be available on both institutions’ websites.
More information is found here.