Prospects for Arms Control, Disarmament, and Nonproliferation: 70 years after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings

9th International Student/Young Pugwash (ISYP) Conference
Nagasaki, Japan, 30-31 October 2015

On the occasion of the 61st Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs “Nagasaki’s Voice: Remember Your Humanity” International Student/Young Pugwash (ISYP) invites students, and young scholars and professionals from around the world to participate in an international conference that will address, from a critical and interdisciplinary perspective, the global impact of national and regional security issues on a broad range of topics.

ISYP exists to provide the younger generation a unique opportunity to reflect on and address the threat of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, as well as other sources of conflict. The 9th ISYP Conference seeks to provide a space for young professionals and scholars to engage in a dialogue and exchange ideas concerning national, regional, and global security and interact with the Nobel Peace Prize winning Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. The 9th ISYP Conference will gather participants from various disciplinary backgrounds that are developing and have acquired the expertise necessary to understand, analyze, and influence national, regional and global security. The conference will address the following issues:

1. The role of nuclear weapons in the world
   The legacy of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. The evolution of nuclear strategies and doctrines. The future of nuclear weapons in the 21st century, particularly in regional contexts (e.g. East Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East).
2. Ways to reduce nuclear weapons
   Prospects for a global legal ban and/or a nuclear weapons convention. Further nuclear reductions between the U.S. and Russia. The Ukrainian crisis and NATO’s nuclear policy. Addressing regional concerns such as North Korea, the Middle East WMDFZ, and an Arctic NWFZ. Role of international organizations to support disarmament efforts.
3. Verification and compliance with international treaties and agreements
   Disarmament verification and monitoring – renewing efforts and novel approaches. Maintaining and strengthening existing regimes: compliance issues with the INF Treaty; the CWC, BTWC, and CTBT.
4. The next generation of arms control and disarmament experts
   Inheriting the challenge – help the next generation of arms control experts learn and contribute to the debate on arms control. Different roles for policy makers, scientists and people with alternative backgrounds. Promote cooperation among different actors.
5. Energy, environment, and security implications
   Nuclear energy in the 21st century: its role in energy security and its safety and security risks. Learn the right lessons from the Fukushima incident. Impact of increasing pressure of climate change on regional and global security.

The ISYP Executive Board and the organizers of the 9th ISYP Conference in Nagasaki, Japan, invite students and young professionals to submit applications to participate in this event. Both members and non-members of the ISYP network are invited to apply. Applicants are required to submit a paper abstract (and subsequently a paper in advance of the conference) that addresses a topic in at least one of the five areas mentioned above.

Please review the call for papers for more details on the conference, including application information.