Hello, I’m Sébastien
An Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. I am also a visiting researcher at Princeton University’s Program on Science & Global Security.
I work on nuclear weapons, environmental justice, and global security issues and strive to make our world a better place.
About Me
I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics where I focus on addressing the global security and environmental challenges associated with nuclear arms and emerging technologies.
My work combines science, technology, and policy analysis, to inform policymakers and the public about nuclear risks and threats and propose diplomatic and domestic policy solutions to address them. I have led or co-directed research collaborations intersecting science, security, environmental justice, and journalism, including major multi-media projects like The Moruroa Files and The Missiles on Our Land, both of which have been covered internationally and received major recognitions.
Previously, I have been a Research Scholar at Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security part of the School of Public and International Affairs, a postdoc at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, an associate faculty at Science-Po Paris, and a nuclear safety engineer for strategic deterrent systems in the French Ministry of Armed Forces. I got my PhD from Princeton in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2018.
I have been invited to present my work at Princeton, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, UC Berkeley, Rutgers, Sandia National Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab, Rutgers, the American Physical Society, the Lindau Physics Nobel Laureate Meeting, the United Nations, the US Congress, and the French Parliament.
I have received multiple accolades for my research and investigative work, including the 2025 Joseph A. Burton Award from the American Physical Society for outstanding contributions to the public understanding or resolution of issues involving the interface of physics and society, the 2022 Sigma Award for best data journalism in the world, finalist for the 2021 Albert Londres prize (France highest journalism award), and a nomination for the 2023 Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award among others. My work has been featured in major media outlets, including The New York Times, Le Monde, The Guardian, BBC, Scientific American, Science, Nature, Der Spiegel, CNN, MSNBC Morning Joe, Wired, and the New Yorker.
Download my full CV (link to be live soon)
Publications
I have authored and co-authored a book, a dozen peer-reviewed papers spanning nuclear science, policy, history, and security, and several major reports on nuclear policy and technology.
My book, Toxique, co-authored with Tomas Statius, is a major investigation into the legacy of French nuclear testing in the Pacific, which received numerous awards and led French President Emmanuel Macron to publicly recognize that France had a debt towards French Polynesia, to the improvement of victims’ compensation as well as the unprecedented opening of government archives.
Selected Publications:
S. Philippe and T. Statius. (2021, 2nd edition 2024). Toxique. French University Press (PUF).
S. Philippe. “Who Would Take the Brunt of an Attack on U.S. Nuclear Missile Silos?” (Print title: “Sacrifice Zones”) Scientific American Magazine 329 No. 5 (December 2023): 46-57.
J. Tobisch, S. Philippe, et al. (2023). "Remote Inspection of Adversary-Controlled Environments," Nature Communications.
S. Philippe and I. Stepanov (2023). "Radioactive Fallout from Nuclear Attacks on China’s Missile Silo Fields," Science & Global Security 31, no. 1-2 (2023): 3-15.
S. Philippe, S. Schoenberger, N. Ahmed (2022), “Radiation Exposures and Compensation of Victims of French Atmospheric Nuclear Tests in Polynesia,” Science and Global Security, 30:2, 1-33.
T. Patton, S. Philippe, and Z. Mian (2019), “Fit for Purpose: An Evolutionary Strategy for the Implementation and Verification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons,” Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, 2:2, 387–409.
S. Philippe, R. J. Goldston, A. Glaser and F. d'Errico (2016), “A Physical Zero-Knowledge Object-Comparison System for Nuclear Warhead Verification,” Nature Communications, 7:12890
Teaching & Mentorship
At UW-Madison, I am currently teaching NE427 Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory (Fall 2025).
I also mentor students (PhD and undergrads) and postdocs in research, guiding them through collaborative research and journalism projects.