Science and Security
A foundational concern of Pugwash is the ethical imperative in the practice and development of science to prevent malign or harmful effects.
Through scientific and technical analysis of key technological developments we provide evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, thereby helping to shape national and international policies that will reduce the likelihood of conflict. At the same time, Pugwash is focused on strengthening scientific responsibility by promoting risk awareness, ethical norms, and effective science–policy engagement in areas with security implications.
This is crucial in an era when emerging technologies are being developed and deployed in ways which may be destabilizing to international security. Domains such as outer space, strategic and conventional forces, and weapons of mass destruction are impacted by new technologies including AI, quantum technologies, synthetic biology and bioengineering, advanced materials and nanotechnology.
Our work engages scientific communities from across the world, with a particular focus on recruiting younger scientists, in order maximize the value of cross-cultural and interdisciplinary dialogue that can identify areas of mutual concern and propose policy solutions that build cooperative security.
Current Projects
Project on Emerging Technologies and Strategic Stability
Pugwash seeks to reduce risks that emerging technologies will be deployed in destabilizing ways through working to strengthen norms, practices, and governance of responsible science in support of global security. In doing so, we raise awareness in the scientific community of security-related dual-use challenges in specific fields.
This project studies and highlights the unregulated research, development and deployment of several emerging technologies and the transformative implications they hold for military and international affairs. Through online seminars, in-person workshops, and published policy briefs, Pugwash aims to ensure scientific expertise is more systematically integrated into policy discussions on emerging technologies and to strengthen an international scientific community focus on the nexus of their work and social responsibility.
Project Lead: Götz Neuneck, Chair of the Council
Staff: Nicolas Ayala Arboleda, Pugwash-Carnegie Fellow on Science and Security
Project on The Effects af a Nuclear War
Pugwash seeks to strengthen national and international resilience strategies and policy frameworks to become more aware of the broader effects of nuclear weapons use. Through an interdisciplinary dialogue mobilizing regional studies of the cascading effects of nuclear weapons use, we will inform and educate policymakers and publics to the societal, economic, and agricultural impact of a nuclear exchange, war, or testing.
Project Lead: Karen Hallberg, Secretary General
Staff: Nicolas Ayala Arboleda, Pugwash-Carnegie Fellow on Science and Security
Recent Programme Activities
Global Nobel Laureates Assembly on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear War
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Rome workshop on AI and Nuclear Weapons
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Announcing the new Pugwash-Carnegie Fellow for Science and Security
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Stockholm workshop on Effects of a Nuclear War
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