Our thanks go to all who attended our virtual #UKPONI2021 annual conference earlier this month!
We’re feeling incredibly inspired after this year’s event and its amazing speakers! From thought-provoking discussions and spontaneous networking opportunities, to brilliant insights, we’ve enjoyed connecting with the brightest minds in our community. All sessions are still available to watch on the platform and you can check out the conversations on Twitter using #UKPONI2021. We will also upload the recorded sessions on YouTube in July.
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Our newsletter is reaching your inbox slightly later this month, but we’ve got a good reason for the delay: the new RUSI website was launched last week! Do check it out and let us know if you have any feedback.
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There is more exciting news for UK PONI in July as we are looking to grow our team! Whoever occupies the new post of Project Assistant will support the planning and organisation of our events and activities. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals wishing to gain experience at a leading think tank. For more information, please check our careers page in early July.
Dr Ana Alecsandru
Research Fellow, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
UK PONI project lead
Watch the session recordings
Nuclear Café
Join us on 9 July for a conversation with Marina Favaro, Research Fellow at the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy (IFSH) at the University of Hamburg (and a previous speaker at the UK PONI annual conference). We will talk about her research on technology, including her recent paper on the impact of emerging technologies on nuclear stability.
On 30 July, we will welcome Alicia Sanders-Zakre and Susi Snyder from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) to talk about their research on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), the first international ban on nuclear weapons, and the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons. We will also discuss ICAN’s most recent report on 2020 global nuclear weapons spending.
Recommended Reading
The Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons by Ambassador Alexander Kmentt
The Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons: How it was Achieved and Why it Matters by Ambassador Alexander Kmentt, President-designate of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The book provides readers with an authoritative account of the complex evolution of the ‘Humanitarian Initiative’ (HI) and the negotiation history of the TPNW. It includes a close analysis of internal strategy documents and communications in the author’s possession which trace the tactical and political decisions of a small group of state actors.
Events & Courses
Exploring the United Kingdom’s Approach to Nuclear Security with Professor Christopher Hobbs (King’s College London), 7 July. This presentation will explore the UK’s approach to nuclear security, focusing on its evolving regulatory system, efforts to strengthen security culture within industry and response to the coronavirus pandemic. Details here.
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CSIS PONI 2021 Summer Conference, 13-14 July. The virtual conference will feature a keynote address as well as presentations from emerging nuclear experts. Register here.
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The Public Policy and Nuclear Threats (PPNT) Boot Camp, 26-30 July (online) aims to give participants the knowledge and analytic tools to contribute to the debate on future U.S. nuclear policy. The boot camp features lectures, discussions, debates, and policy simulations. Deadline for professionals is 13 July. Details here.
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The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has launched a quest to uncover visions of the future from the brightest student minds in the UK. Entrants must answer the question: what do you believe to be the future threats or opportunities facing UK defence and security over the next 25 years? The competition is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students currently based at UK academic institutions. The deadline for the submission of applications is 31 July. Details here.
Publications
The Körber Strategic Stability Initiative has developed 19 principles and policy recommendations that can serve as a starting point to enhance international peace and security. Read here.
Weapons of Mass Debate – Integrating the UK Into the European Discussion (28 June 2021).
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Less is More: The Feminist Case Against Minimum Deterrence (22 June 2021).
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Arms Control in Today’s (Dis)information Environment (24 June 2021).
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Reimagining the Open Skies Treaty: cooperative aerial monitoring (15 June 2021).
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NATO Reiterates Rejection of Deploying Ground-Based Nuclear Missiles (23 June 2021).
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This Is Not a Drill. False Alarm, a new film by director Nick Lyell, explores the 38 minutes between the imminent nuclear missile warning and its retraction on a January 2018 morning in the Hawaiian Islands.
Jobs & Internships
Various positions are available at RUSI. Apply for Research Fellow – Project Sandstone, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy; Research Fellow Military Sciences; or Senior Project Officer International Security Studies. Read more here.
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Research Assistant – Internship at the Centre for Science and Security Studies (CSSS) in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London. Deadline is 30 June. Details here.