CISAC Seminars showcase Stanford faculty and researchers, as well as policy makers and visiting scholars from all over the country. Speakers typically cover general topics on international security and present the policy implications of their research or their years of experience in government. CISAC Seminars are free and usually open to the public. At speaker’s request, some events may be by invitation only.

The CISAC Research Seminar Series features speakers that present on topics related to international security and their policy implications. The purpose is to encourage interchange between the scientific and non-scientific communities at CISAC and within Stanford, to further CISAC’s goals of educating students and the public, conducting good scholarly research and influencing policy.

The series of seminars and public lectures will feature philosophers, lawyers, historians, social scientists, human rights activists, soldiers and political leaders grappling with vexing moral questions raised by uses of violence in international relations and domestic politics.

The Drell Lecture is an annual public event sponsored by CISAC. By tradition, the Drell lecturer addresses a current and critical national or international security issue that has important scientific or technical dimensions. The Drell Lecture is named for Sidney Drell, CISAC's founding science co-director. Albert and Cicely Wheelon generously endowed the lectureship.