Oral History Project

Storytelling plays essential roles in how nuclear policy communities retain knowledge, perceive new challenges, and develop or regenerate expertise. When recorded and preserved as oral history, stories become a primary source that can help future generations understand events or provide data where the historical record is lacking.

This project will provide professional training on oral history methodology to policy researchers and analysts who seek to develop their skillsets, add primary source data to the historical record, elevate the role of storytelling in policy discourse, and expand their professional networks. Participants will apply their training to prepare, conduct, and publish oral history interviews with risk reduction practitioners. Published interviews will be featured at a capstone conference in 2026.

Dates and Details

• The training workshop will take place during the first week of November 2025 in Istanbul, Türkiye.
• Oral history interviews will be conducted throughout winter and spring 2026.
• A capstone conference will be held in summer 2026 (location TBD).

The Stanley Center for Peace and Security will organize and cover non-refundable economy-class airfare, as well as accommodation, meals, and ground transportation during the workshop and capstone conference. Please note that the process of obtaining any necessary visas for these events is the participant’s individual responsibility, though the Stanley Center will reimburse visa costs and provide supporting documentation.

The Stanley Center and BASIC will collaborate with participants on their oral history storytelling and provide logistical support. Upon successful publication of an oral history interview, participants will be awarded a competitive honorarium.

Applications were accepted until July 17, 2025, 11:59 PM UTC. Finalists will be notified in early August.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be within the first 10 years of a career in relevant field for risk reduction and nuclear weapons policy.
• Hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
• Be available to travel to a training workshop in Istanbul, Türkiye, for the first week of November 2025.
• Be proficient in the English language.

Selection Criteria

Competitive applicants will be able to:

• Indicate how professional training on oral history methodology and storytelling could contribute to their career advancement.
• Provide examples of interviewees or historical events related to risk reduction that they might like to have as the subject of an oral history interview project.
• Commit to participating in the training workshop and recording an oral history interview.
• Provide an up-to-date resume or CV.
• Provide a short statement of interest.

TOP IMAGE: Disassembling of a Soviet submarine in Severodvinsk, 1996, as part of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. (U.S. Navy/Todd P. Cichonowicz)

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