FUSION Autumn 2023

UK PONI Annual Conference 2023

By bringing together emerging and established experts from across the nuclear field, the conference promotes a diverse, informed dialogue on pressing nuclear topics.

This year, panel presentations from rising experts delved in on topics like:

• The AUKUS Partnership in the New Nuclear Age
• Continuity and Change in the UK’s Approach to Deterrence, Arms Control and Disarmament
• Nuclear Security and Non-proliferation in a New Era for Nuclear Energy
• Deciphering Chinese Nuclear Thinking

If you missed it, you can now watch some of these outstanding presentations as well as the address by our keynote speaker. Please note that, due to a technical error, recordings for Sessions 2 and 4 are unavailable. UK PONI apologises for any inconvenience.

‘Endlessly Fascinating’: Rose Gottemoeller reflects on a US Career in Nuclear Issues

We were honoured to welcome as our Annual Conference keynote speaker the Hon. Rose Gottemoeller, a former Deputy Secretary General of NATO and the US’s lead negotiator for the New START Treaty.

She discussed her distinguished career and contemporary nuclear issues, delving into topics such as US-USSR nuclear dynamics during the Cold War, Russia’s present use of nuclear rhetoric against Ukraine, and China’s increasing nuclear arsenal.

You can now read her full conversation with Dr Matthew Harries, Director for Proliferation and Nuclear Policy at RUSI and UK PONI Director.

US-UK PONI Bilateral Exchange 2023

Every year, UK PONI collaborates with CSIS PONI to organise an exchange of mid-career academics and professionals in the nuclear field to study, explore, and expand the role of the ‘special relationship’ in the field.

This year, the week-long event took place in Washington, D.C. CSIS hosted several panel discussions, debates and simulation exercises with experts in the field. The exchanges aim to build the networks of professionals working across the spectrum of nuclear weapons issues, and increase a collective understanding of nuclear topics.

If you are a member of the UK PONI network and would like your publication to be featured in our quarterly FUSION newsletters, please write to ukponi@rusi.org.

Second Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW: Preparations and Expectations
Organiser: Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
When and Where: 9 November 2023 (online)
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Book proposals and publishing
Organiser: British International Studies Association
When and Where: 14 November 2023 (online)
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Call for proposals: AMC Annual Conference 2024>
Organiser: Alva Myrdal Centre, Uppsala University, Sweden
Closing date for applications: 3 December 2023.
Learn more<

CSIS PONI Fall Conference 2023
Organiser: CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues
When and Where: 5 December 2023 (Washington, D.C.)
Learn more

The Unknowns About China's Nuclear Modernization Program
Date: June 2023
By: Fiona S. Cunningham, Arms Control Association
Read here

The Disadvantage of Nuclear Superiority
Date: 10 July 2023
By: Abby Fanlo and Lauren Sukin
Read here

Five Questions We Often Get Asked About AI in Weapon Systems and Our Answers
Date: 25 September 2023
By: Anna Nadibaidze and Ingvild Bode
Read here

BASIC Brief: Burevestnik
Date: 11 October 2023
By: Chris Spedding, BASIC
Read here

China's No First Use of Nuclear Weapons Policy: Change or False Alarm?
Date: 13 October 2023
By: Dr Sari Arho Havrén, RUSI
Read here

Global Effects of Nuclear Conflict: Implications for Nuclear Policymaking
Date: 19 October 2023
By: Ananya Agustin Malhotra and Patricia Jaworek, Nuclear Threat Initiative
Read here

Subconventional Stability on the Korean Peninsula: Lessons From South Asia
Date: 20 October 2023
By: Frank O’Donnell, South Asian Voices
Read here

Oppenheimer envisioned the tactical use of nuclear weapons. Putin now threatens it
Date: 23 October 2023
By: Matthew Evangelista, Journal of Atomic Scientists
Read here

Russia’s Withdrawal From the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Is an Own Goal
Date: 24 October 2023
By: Maxim Starchak, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Read here

The Return of Nuclear Escalation: How America’s Adversaries Have Hijacked Its Old Deterrence Strategy
Date: 24 October 2023
By: Keir A. Lieber and Daryl G. Press, Foreign Affairs
Read here

Team Assistant
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
Closing date for applications is 5 November 2023.
Details and application here.

Warhead Engineering Manager
Defence Nuclear Organisation – Ministry of Defence
Closing date for applications is 6 November 2023.
Details and application here.

Graduate Scheme 2024 – Science and Engineering
National Nuclear Laboratory
Closing date for applications is 8 November 2023
Details and application here.

Graduate Professional – Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
Closing date for applications is 17 November 2023.
Details and application here.

PhD Opportunity – Resolving Nuclear Conflict
University of East Anglia
Closing date for applications is 20 November 2023.
Details and application here.

Evolve Graduate Programme
Atomic Weapons Establishment
Now taking applications.
Details and application here.

Several internship opportunities
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Details and applications here.