Matthew Bunn

Matthew Bunn serves as the James R. Schlesinger Professor of the Practice of Energy, National Security, and Foreign Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, where he also co-leads the Project on Managing the Atom at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. His work bridges academic research and policy implementation in critical national security domains.

Bunn's research concentrates on nuclear security vulnerabilities, nonproliferation challenges, and energy policy intersections with foreign affairs. He examines contemporary threats including nuclear terrorism pathways, conflict-zone nuclear facility risks, and disinformation campaigns around radiological weapons. His scholarship emphasizes practical risk mitigation through international cooperation and institutional strengthening, particularly regarding nuclear materials security and arms control frameworks.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent focus on Ukraine-related nuclear risks (Zaporizhzhia plant security, Russian disinformation), enduring terrorism threats, and institutional mechanisms for nuclear security governance. His work demonstrates how technical nuclear security challenges intersect with geopolitical crises and policy implementation gaps.

Bunn operates primarily through Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center, where the Project on Managing the Atom fosters collaboration between scholars, policymakers, and technical experts. This initiative develops actionable strategies for reducing nuclear threats through research, dialogue, and policy engagement, with particular emphasis on securing vulnerable nuclear materials and strengthening nonproliferation regimes.