Sebastien Philippe

Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University

Abstract: Between 1966 and 1996, France conducted 193 atmospheric and underground nuclear weapons tests in Polynesia in the Southern Pacific Ocean, profoundly affecting the environment and the health of local people and of French veterans involved in the testing program. The talk, based on the newly published book Toxique and the related website Moruroa Files, presents the results of a two-year long study involving extensive computer simulations of nuclear test fallouts, dozens of interviews in France and Polynesia, and 2000 pages of declassified French government documents, revealing the consequences of French nuclear testing in the Pacific and the struggle of local communities and veterans to seek justice and compensation.

Bio: Dr. Sebastien Philippe is an Associate Research Scholar with the Program on Science and Global Security at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs. He is also an associate faculty with the Nuclear Knowledges Program at Sciences-Po, Paris. His research focuses on nuclear proliferation, arms control, and verification. His book "Toxique" on the legacy of French nuclear testing in the Pacific, co-authored with journalist Tomas Statius, is finalist for the 2021 Albert Londres prize, the French equivalent of the Pulitzer prize. Previously, Sebastien was a Stanton Nuclear Security Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and worked in the French Ministry of Defense. He has a PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton.

There is also a video describing this work, which won the 2021 @DIGawards for best investigative journalism (short video format).