FUSION Spring 2022

The team’s been a little quiet over the last few months while we’ve been busy working on rebranding UK PONI. But I’m delighted to now be able to share this new look with you all!

UK PONI’s mission to support the development of the next generation of nuclear experts has not really changed in the last twelve years. However, we felt that we could do better at reaching and engaging new audiences, while strengthening our existing networks.

Over the last six months, I have truly enjoyed engaging with our stakeholders, conducting interviews and focus groups to understand how this project can do more significant things with the resources we have.

It is you, the people in this network, that make this project meaningful. We tasked a design team with realigning our visual identity. The result? A refreshing update that keeps the brand true to its core value: a diverse network of emerging and established experts.

The logo received a simple but effective polish, with the use of the full name of the project, accompanied by the symbol of the atom. The colour palette was also expanded to reflect the variety of our activities, while continuing to work harmoniously with the purple associated with the RUSI brand. The greens, blues and purples provide a modern and dynamic look, and the use of contrasting tones, represents diversity and the combining of opinions within the community.

You can engage with us on Twitter @UKPONI, and follow our new LinkedIn account to stay in touch with the project! We are looking forward to growing this important network.

We live in increasingly concerning times. I believe nuclear education to stimulate innovation in the fields of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation is more important than ever. We need to invest in training a diverse next generation of nuclear experts and help collaborative networks flourish.

I hope you will continue to support UK PONI to cultivate new leadership and engagement to reduce and eventually eliminate the dangers posed by nuclear weapons. You can do this in many ways – from talking about the project and promoting our activities, to collaborating with us or sponsoring the project or specific activities.

With best wishes,

Ana

Dr Ana Alecsandru
Research Fellow, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy
UK PONI Programme lead

We are still accepting proposals for presentations at the 2022 Annual Conference, which will be held in person on 7 June. Please download and complete the proposal form and send it to ukponi@rusi.org before Monday, 4 April.

Selected presenters will receive support throughout the development of their presentation and paper. Read testimonials here from past speakers at the conference.

This year’s annual conference will take place in London and UK PONI will host a careers fair in the afternoon.

Ukraine and the Future of Arms Control
Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine comes at a time when every state possessing nuclear weapons is modernising or plans to modernise its nuclear forces. One by one, arms control treaties have been discarded. Essential norms, including the norm against waging aggressive war, as well as humanitarian laws of warfare, have been disregarded. Join the Stimson Centre’s Co-Founder Michael Krepon for an engaging discussion on rebuilding nuclear peace. Online, 26 March.

The A/CPPNM and Nuclear Security: A Conversation with U.S. Under Secretary of State Bonnie D. Jenkins
The Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation is hosting a hybrid event during which U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie D. Jenkins will discuss the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM), its importance for global nuclear security and U.S. priorities for its first Review Conference. Online and Vienna, Austria, 29 March.

Navigating Conferences, BISA
Thinking about applying for a conference but don’t know where to start? Come along for an informal Q&A and some handy hints and tips on navigating conferences: from finding out what conferences are on, to writing an abstract, to overcoming presentation nerves. Online, 4 May.

Transatlantic Studies Association Annual Conference
The TSA is heading to the University of Kent at Canterbury for its annual conference in 2022. This will be the 20th anniversary conference for the TSA and will explore the transatlantic relationship with respect to history, politics and international relations, and literary studies. Canterbury, England, 4-6 July.

Early-Career Nuclear Strategists’ Workshop
The NATO Defense College (NDC), in cooperation with NATO’s Nuclear Policy Directorate, is opening a Call for Applications for its fourth edition of the Early-Career Nuclear Strategists Workshop (ECNSW). The workshop includes opportunities for early career scholars to present their work. Rome, Italy, 6-8 July.

Public Policy and Nuclear Threats Bootcamp
The summer workshop-in-residence at UC San Diego, known as the Public Policy and Nuclear Threats (PPNT) Boot Camp, gives participants the knowledge and analytic tools they need to contribute to the debate on future U.S. nuclear policy. The boot camp features lectures, discussions, debates, and policy simulations. Participants attend talks by distinguished researchers, academics, policy officials, and operational specialists from leading universities, the National Laboratories, international organisations, and government agencies, on topics ranging from current nuclear threats, international safeguards, and nonproliferation strategies. La Jolla, California, 31 July – 12 August.

2022 Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference
For over 30 years, experts, officials, executives, journalists, and students from across the globe have come together to debate—and explore solutions for—the most pressing challenges in nuclear nonproliferation, arms control, disarmament, deterrence, energy, and security at the Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference. After meeting virtually in 2021, attendees will gather again in person and online in 2022. Online and Washington, D.C., 27-28 October.

North Korea Test-Fires Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
(Wall Street Journal, 24 March)

China aims to expand nuclear power programme amid threat of global energy crisis following Ukraine invasion
(South China Morning Post, 24 March)

Iran’s foreign minister says nuclear deal closer ‘than ever’
(Reuters, 23 March)

Russia destroys Chernobyl radiation monitoring lab, says Ukraine
(CNN, 23 March)

Germany rules out prolonging its nuclear power plants
(Euractiv, 8 March)

North Korea: satellite images suggest building work at nuclear test site for first time since 2018
(The Guardian, 8 March)

UK to set out new energy supply strategy as prices soar
(Reuters, 7 March)

Talk of Russian nuclear escalation is brinkmanship, says UK’s Raab
(Reuters, 6 March)

North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of S Korea election
(Al Jazeera, 5 March)

UK seeks investors for nuclear plant as it eases out China’s CGN
(Financial Times, 3 March)

UK statement on Ukraine: Conference on Disarmament
(UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, 3 March)

China rattled by calls for Japan to host US nuclear weapons
(The Guardian, 1 March)

How the Ukraine war could go nuclear
(Politico, 24 March)

Could an attack on Ukrainian nuclear facilities cause a disaster greater than Chernobyl? Possibly, simulations show. (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 23March)

Averting a Nuclear Dystopia
(Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 23 March)

Unpacking the (semi-)announcement of a submarine base on Australia’s east coast
(Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 9 March)

Russian military doctrine calls a limited nuclear strike “de-escalation.” Here’s why
(Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 8 March)

After Putin’s Threats, NATO Needs a Nuclear Weapons Debate
(Foreign Policy, 7 March)

Nuclear reactors in a war zone: A new type of weapon?
(Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 7 March)

Putin puts world on alert with high-stakes nuclear posturing
(Financial Times, 7 March)

The Ukraine invasion highlights why Biden’s Nuclear Posture Review should endorse bold new vision for nuclear security
(Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 28 February)

Reducing or Exploiting Risk? Varieties of US Nuclear Thought and their Implications for Northeast Asia
(Asia-Pacific Leadership Network, 28 February)

Nuclear Dangers in Europe, Again
(Inkstick Media, 25 February)

A matter of speed? Understanding hypersonic missile systems
(SIPRI, 5 February)

Youth Global Disarmament Essay competition, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR). The deadline to submit is 15 April. Details and submission criteria here.

Internship Programme 2022, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The deadline to apply is 31 August. Details and application here.

Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Project Specialist, Our Secure Future. Rolling application deadline. Details and application here.

Policy Analyst, Good Energy Collective. Rolling application deadline. Details and application here.

Several opportunities, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Rolling application deadlines. Details and applications here.

Virtual Internship, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Rolling application deadline. Details and application here.