The symposium inspires service academy cadets and midshipmen to draw upon lessons of the past to develop innovative means of prevention in the future. As future military officers representing a nation that continues to place the highest value on human rights, service academy students must be aware of and engaged in the causes, contexts, and consequences of mass atrocity perpetration and prevention. The focal point is the students, who share their original research on issues related to mass atrocity. 

This program is free and available to students currently enrolled in the United States Military Service Academies. Application is required.

Travel and accommodation costs will not be covered. Lunch will be provided on both dates of the symposium.

We invite all service academy students working on genocide or mass atrocity issues to submit a 250- to 400-word abstract that includes a clear thesis statement and outlines what the paper will/does cover.

Previous topics have included:

• Early warning efforts
• The Holocaust and other historical genocides and mass atrocities
• Contemporary mass atrocities
• Responsibility to protect and atrocity prevention
• Justice, reconciliation, memory, and/or rebuilding
• The roles of the military in mass atrocity 

Your proposal will be evaluated in a blind review process. If your proposal is selected, you will be notified by March 11, 2025, with next steps and further information.

Application Deadline: March 3, 2025

For more information, please contact Yael Friedman at yfriedman@ushmm.org.

This program is free and available to students currently enrolled in the United States Military Service Academies. Registration is required.

*Note: Registering on this website secures your participation in the symposium but does not serve as clearance with your institution. Please make sure to clear travel and participation through your appropriate institution.