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Core Dimensions of Nuclear Power and Nuclear Weapons

6th International Student/Young Pugwash Conference

The Hague, Netherlands, 15-16 April 2009

On the occasion of the 58 th Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs “Justice, Peace and Nuclear Disarmament”, International Student/Young Pugwash (ISYP) invites students and young scholars from around the world to participate in an international conference that will address, from a critical and interdisciplinary perspective, the core dimensions of nuclear power and nuclear weapons at the dawn of the twenty-first century. We would like to specifically address the past, present and future of different dimensions of the nuclear power and nuclear weapons problématique. The world today is different than it was during the Cold War. The young generation needs to demonstrate that we are capable of thinking about nuclear issues in a new way by tackling the critical problems related to the dual use of nuclear technology in the 21st century.

The 2009 ISYP Conference seeks to provide a space for young scholars to exchange and create ideas concerning nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. In this sense, the 2009 ISYP Conference will include participants from disciplinary backgrounds who have the expertise necessary to understand and analyze the interfaces between different spheres of social, economic and political life that lead to either stable or conflictive arrangements. Given the complexity of the issues at hand, the organizers of the 2009 ISYP Conference thus welcome applications from students or young professionals who are knowledgeable on at least one of the following five core dimensions of the problématique:

Atoms for Peace?
world-wide growth nuclear energy vs. risks of nuclear weapons proliferation

1. Human and Environmental Health Risks of Nuclear Technology
   energy & climate security vs. human & environmental health risks
2. The Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime
   cooperation vs. confrontation and the future of proliferation
3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle or Remain
   schemes forreduction vs. schemes for elimination of nuclear weapons
4. Blowing up the WMD Terrorist Threat
   fact vs. fiction of the WMD terrorist threat

The organizers of the 2009 ISYP Conference invite both members and non-members of the International Student/Young Pugwash network to submit their applications to participate in this event. Applicants to the conference are required to submit a paper abstract (and subsequent paper) dealing with a topic that falls into at least one of the five topics mentioned above.

Both theoretical, discursive and empirical papers will be considered. A 200 word abstract of the paper and a resumé must be submitted along with the application form provided below. All applications must be sent to conference@isyp.org no later than January 19, 2009. The selection will be made before January 30, 2009.

On acceptance, participants are required to complete papers, which must be of a high academic standard, and should be submitted to the organizers before the 1 st of April 2009. Papers that are considered of a particularly exceptional quality will be published in the peer-reviewed ISYP Journal of Science and World Affairs (www.scienceandworldaffairs.org). Given the nature of this conference, one of the chief criteria for selecting participants will be their professional and or academic background and qualifications .

The participants of the ISYP conference will also be included as full participants in the 58 th Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs “Justice, Peace and Nuclear Disarmament” that takes place immediately following the ISYP conference. The Pugwash Conference will feature five working groups, on the following themes (exact wordings may be subject to change):

1. Nuclear Disarmament, Nonprolifertation and the 2010 NPT Review Conference
2. Prospects for Security, Justice and Peace in the Middle East
3. Regional Stability in Central and South Asia: The Situation in Afghanistan and Indo-Pakistani Relations
4. Preventing the Deterioration of Human Rights Standards: Policies and Practices
5. Climate Change, Energy Resources and Technology Sharing

The ISYP participants will be asked to state their preference for working group attendance in the Pugwash Conference at a later stage. ISYP will cover the local costs of meals and accommodation for the duration of both the Student/Young and the senior Pugwash conference (17-20 April 2009). The working language for both conferences will be English.

Participants carry the responsibility to raise their own travel funds. There is only a limited possibility for some developing country participants under exceptional circumstances to obtain partial travel assistance from the organization. For those candidates who identify potential sources of funding for their travel expenses, ISYP can assist applicants by providing any additional information needed, including contacting funding sources, etc.

Also, please make sure that you start visa arrangements in time, so that if you are selected you will have enough time to obtain your visa (ISYP will provide an invitation letter for your visa application if necessary).

Additional information & general inquiries:

conference@isyp.org

Download submission form here