The nuclear age began with a detonation in New Mexico, followed just 20 days later by the U.S. dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the bombings, the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) is hosting a special event on August 6, 2025, to honor the victims of nuclear weapons use and testing.
“80 Years of the Nuclear Age: The Role of Youth in Building a Safer World” will highlight the urgent need to advance disarmament and nonproliferation education, particularly among younger generations.
For Masako Toki, senior project manager and research associate at CNS, this event represents a moment for remembrance, reflection, and a renewed call to action for a world free of nuclear weapons.
“Very soon we will live in a world without atomic bomb survivors,” says Toki. “It is important to learn from them and understand the catastrophic humanitarian impact of the use of nuclear weapons. It’s equally important to think about the victims of nuclear testing. Most of them were Indigenous people and people of color, so this nuclear issue cannot be separated from social justice issues.”
The event will take place at Irvine Auditorium, starting at 4:30 p.m. with a paper-crane folding activity. Participants will hear testimonies from atomic bomb survivors, known as hibakusha, as well as individuals affected by nuclear testing and radioactive contamination—often referred to as downwinders (via Zoom).
After the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Sadako Sasaki, a young girl at the time, developed leukemia. Inspired by the Japanese legend that folding 1,000 paper cranes grants a wish, she folded more than 1,000 cranes while in the hospital. While she did not survive, cranes became a symbol of hope and a call for peace.
The keynote will be delivered by Dr. Stephen Herzog, CNS professor of practice and academic co-chair of the Beyond Nuclear Deterrence Working Group, and Mr. Jean du Preez, director for education and training at CNS and former senior official of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).
The CTBTO was established to support the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBT), which bans all nuclear test explosions for both military and civilian purposes. Although the treaty has not yet entered into force, it continues to mobilize global efforts to prevent the development of new nuclear weapons and to advance the cause for nonproliferation, disarmament, and international peace.
A central theme of the event is the role of the youth in disarmament and nonproliferation, a mission central to Toki’s work.
“The nuclear threat is an existential threat to humanity, but people are not aware of this threat, especially the youth,” says Toki. “We need to raise more awareness, and there is some progress being made. The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) is making an effort to engage young people, and youth-led initiatives like Students for Nuclear Disarmament, a movement originally created by high school students and currently expanding to universities and graduate schools.”
The Critical Issues Forum (CIF)—which Toki coordinates—engages high school students and teachers in disarmament and nonproliferation, both locally and internationally. Her hope is to engage more young people and give them opportunities to think, learn, and feel empowered to take action for nuclear disarmament.
She also coordinates the Summer Undergraduate Nonproliferation Fellowship Program, which brings together undergraduates from various universities for a three-month research experience in Monterey. Working closely with senior CNS faculty, these fellows research issues related to weapons of mass destruction and nonproliferation.
The event will include a youth panel discussion titled “The Role of Youth in a World Free of Nuclear Weapons,” featuring the summer 2025 undergraduate fellows. These students, already engaged in the field, emphasize the importance of expanding youth involvement and why it matters today.
“In international politics, the topic of nuclear weapons is still a central issue, but post the Cold War, it is not something the general public thinks about anymore,” says Fellow Ayumi Nagatomi, a junior at Harvard. “I believe that engaging the younger generation will bring this issue to the forefront of the public’s mind. It is important that we understand the risks that nuclear weapons still pose today.”
Hannah Lee, who attends the University of Georgia, added: “There are so many myths surrounding nuclear weapons, and we need to demystify them. Making nuclear studies more accessible to the public can empower people to participate in these conversations. The work done at CNS makes this possible by bridging academics, policymakers, and the next generation for a peaceful future.”
Everyone is invited to attend this free community event to reflect, to learn, and to better understand the catastrophic impact of nuclear weapons.
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
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