Nuclear science for a more peaceful and secure world
evident develops new technologies and approaches to understand and reduce the risks nuclear weapons and emerging technologies pose to international peace and security.
Our research advances nuclear monitoring, verification, safeguards, nonproliferation, and arms control, providing independent evidence to inform policy and diplomacy.
Founded by Sébastien Philippe, a professor of nuclear engineering and a MacArthur fellow, evident is an interdisciplinary research laboratory at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Our research areas
Tracking nuclear materials and activities
We analyze nuclear fuel cycles, material production, and global supply chains to understand how nuclear materials are produced, moved, and diverted from civilian use.
Understanding the consequences of nuclear conflict
We develop scientific models to evaluate the environmental, humanitarian, and economic effects of nuclear weapon use—from radioactive fallout and urban destruction to global food and economic disruptions.
Advancing monitoring and verification technologies
We discover new approaches to safeguards, monitoring, and verification that strengthen nuclear security and arms control through sensing technologies, satellite imagery, robotics, and AI-enabled data analysis.
Featured publications
Toxique: Investigating the Legacy of French Nuclear Testing
An award‑winning investigation documenting the health and environmental impacts of French nuclear tests in Polynesia, combining scientific analysis with investigative journalism.
Remote Inspection of Adversary-Controlled Environments
This research advances methods for inspecting high‑risk, adversary‑controlled sites, addressing a central technical challenge in nuclear verification and arms control.
Verifying Nuclear Weapons Without Revealing Secrets
This landmark study introduces a physical “zero‑knowledge” verification system that can confirm the authenticity of nuclear warheads without disclosing sensitive design information.
News and media
Study reveals massive quantities of undeclared uranium are exported from the DRC
A study conducted by University of Wisconsin–Madison and Princeton University nuclear engineers has identified a major blind spot in nuclear accounting with global nuclear security implications. According to the researchers, large quantities of uranium have been extracted, concentrated and exported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over the past 20 years. This uranium has traveled…
Wisconsin lies in the path of nuclear fallout, UW–Madison researcher’s modeling shows
A map depicting the areas in North America at risk of receiving high levels of radioactive fallout based on simulations of nuclear attacks on silos for each day of 2021. Map by Sébastien Philippe, Ivan Stepanov and Svitlana Lavrenciuc Wisconsin may not be the economic, political or military center of the United States. But the state…
Sébastien Philippe Wins 2025 MacArthur ‘Genius’ Award
Photo of Sébastien Philippe. Credit: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Sébastien Philippe, a visiting researcher at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs’ Program on Science & Global Security (SGS), has been awarded a 2025 MacArthur Fellowship. Philippe’s achievement puts him among 20 scientists, artists, and scholars across the country who will…
Work with us
We’re building a team of curious, collaborative researchers focused on making nuclear risk visible, measurable, and actionable. If you’re a prospective graduate student, postdoc, or collaborator interested in advancing evidence, developing new methods, or shaping policy at the intersection of science and global security, we want to hear from you.
Open positions will be posted soon. In the meantime, feel free to send your CV and a brief statement of interest.
about evident
Independent research and new technologies to understand and reduce the risks posed by nuclear weapons.
Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, MacArthur Foundation, PAX sapiens, Longview Philanthropy, and the Ploughshares Fund.