Talk will explore ‘surge to modernity’ in Iran’s nuclear program

David Patrikarakos, a journalist and author, will speak at Yale on Friday, Feb. 28 as a Poynter Fellow in Journalism. Patrikarakos’s talk is co-sponsored by the Yale Program in Iranian Studies.

Patrikarakos will give an Iran Colloquium Luncheon Lecture titled “Iran’s Nuclear Program: A Surge to Modernity,” at noon in Rm. 203 of Luce Hall, 34 Hillhouse Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

Patrikarakos began his career at the news desk of the Financial Times in London, covering a wide range of topics including, most notably, his feature on the 30th anniversary of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. With this background in journalism with an international focus, Patrikarakos moved to the New Statesman Magazine, where he worked as a foreign correspondent. 

More recently, Patrikarakos has branched out beyond print journalism, working on books and documentary films. In 2012, Patrikarakos’ first book, “Nuclear Iran: The Birth of an Atomic State,” which covers the history of Iran’s nuclear program, garnered much critical acclaim. He has also produced several television documentaries on topics including the Arab Spring, the Euro Crisis, and conflict in Congo.

Patrikarakos also has become involved in political consultancy and now serves as a news commentator as well.  

The Poynter Fellowship in Journalism was established by Nelson Poynter, who received his master’s degree in 1927 from Yale. The fellowship brings to campus journalists from a wide variety of media outlets who have made significant contributions to their field. Among recent Poynter fellow are Jill Abramson, Nathaniel Rich, and James Bennet.