By Ksenia Pirnavskaia Nuclear Research University (MEPhI) Moscow, Russian Federation
Inspired by the 2018 CTBTO Science and Diplomacy Symposium in Vienna, CYG member Ksenia Pirnavskaia instigated the first Science Diplomacy School in Moscow in the spring of 2019.
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losing the gap between science and diplomacy is a crucial task, especially in the field of nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and nuclear testing, due to the complexity of these particular issues and close linkage of politics and science, writes Ksenia Pirnavskaia.
Margoyev was among experts participating in the first Science Diplomacy School held in Moscow at the National Research Nuclear University (MEPhI) and Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) university 24-27April 2019.
She was among CYG members participating in the second CTBT Science and Diplomacy Symposium held in Vienna in college and make it more feasible for students to bridge the gap between the fields 2018. of science and diplomacy. What I noticed during the event was that the idea of integrating people from strik- The school ingly different fields in the framework of From 24-27April, 30 pre-selected undernuclear testing issues – is challenging but fruitful and rewarding both for the organ- graduate and graduate students from 15 leading universities in Moscow, St. Petersizers and participants. burg, Samara and Novosibirsk, including Nevertheless, it is always a problem students from India and Kazakhstan, took for diplomats and others who may have part in the first Science Diplomacy School brushed science aside to really under- at the National Research Nuclear Universistand, appreciate and benefit from science ty (MEPhI) and Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) univercommunication. sity. Inspired by the example of the Science The school was organized by the InterDiplomacy school established by the Trieste, Italy, based World Academy of Scienc- national Center for Public Diplomacy, of es for the Advancement of Science in De- the Science Diplomacy Club MEPhI, and veloping Countries, I was determined to the Student Scientific Society MGIMO of by the International Security Club MGIMO. promote science diplomacy in Russia. But I had to consider the challenge for students majoring in science to dive into international relations and equally for students majoring in international relations or law to keep up with scientific knowledge and approaches. My idea was to attract students from different cities in Russia, because younger minds are more open to different problem solving approaches and are eager to learn more without necessarily having much experience.
Participants with technical and humanitarian backgrounds analyzed topical issues of international nuclear security and discussed possibilities for improving arms control regimes. They engaged distinguished experts from such organizations as the PIRcenter, MEPhI, MGIMO, RIAC, the Gorbachev-foundation, Gorchakov Foundation, the Arms Control Association (ACA), the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), CNS, Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey (USA).
But in order to nurture a generation familiar with science and diplomacy, we need to start in the first years of PAVEL PALAZHCHENKO (L)
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U.S. Government, free of known restrictions under copyright law
Marrying politics and technology: inaugurating the Moscow Science Diplomacy School project
Three online sessions were dedicated to the CTBTO, its youth group and Women in Peace and Security, organized by
U.S. Air Force photo by Michael Peterson/Released
PERSONAL ACCOUNT
“As much as scientists have to be informed about politics, politicians and policy experts must know the basics of science, especially in the field of weapons of mass destruction, to provide correct analysis and make right decisions based on it,” says Adlan Margoyev, director of the PIR-center “Russia and nuclear non-proliferation programme.
AN UNARMED LGM-30G MINUTEMAN III INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE LAUNCHES DURING AN OPERATIONAL TEST.
Natalia Zhurina, CYG regional coordinator for Eastern Europe.
clear weapons delivery, and missile interception systems.
Specialists introduced participants to 2. The requirement for international the nuts and bolts of the CTBTO and IAEA’s conferences on disarmament every work. Panel discussions on denuclearizathree years: the agenda of the first tion of the Korean Peninsula, Iran’s nucleshould consider hypersonic weapons ar programme and international relations and US Russia commitment to reducwere also held. As well, rocket technoloing arsenals, with others committing gies, classifications of ballistic missiles, not to increase theirs. nuclear physics including the physics of explosion, geospatial tools for monitoring "The MEPhI–MGIMO Science nuclear facilities, as well as the possibility Diplomacy School is the best of nuclear and radiological terrorism, were discussed. grass-root initiative in this field I
have taken part in over the past few A paramount goal of the school was to integrate young people from different years, and I do hope they backgrounds into teams to provide the hold such sessions regularly." draft of a model arms control agreement for the 21st century. By applying scientific knowledge and diplomatic approaches to Adlan Margoyev solving international security conundrums participants learned from each other and results were more granular and sophisti- 3. The introduction of ceilings for the cated. number of nuclear warheads, which could later be reduced proportionally Among policy recommendations was by all the de-facto nuclear powers. the creation of a treaty providing different categories of states: official nuclear weap- 4. The guarantee of a nuclear-free peaceons possessors; de-facto possessors ; states ful zone in outer space. that voluntarily abandoned nuclear weapons and; states without nuclear weapons. On the school’s final day, participants presented their projects on the future of Other recommendations included: arms control for evaluation to RIAC, MEPhI and PIR Center experts. Pavel Pala1. The enforcement of comprehensive zhchenko, chief English interpreter for monitoring over nuclear weapons, nu- Mikhail Gorbachev, and an arms control
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specialist, acknowledged the high level of training and critical thinking of the novice specialists. He also recommended continuing exploring ways to improve arms control regimes. Recommendations will be edited into a single joint document for distribution to institutions, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the PIR-center, CNS, NTI and others. Next year’s plan is to broaden the horizons of the school and invite students from different countries, especially from Annex 2 states. Hopefully, you have already reserved a week for the Science Diplomacy School II in Moscow in 2020. Ksenia Pirnavskaia is junior student at the MEPhI, pursuing her bachelor’s degree in the field of international scientific and technological cooperation. She is also a founder of the Science Diplomacy Club MEPHI, which is a youth department of the International Center for Public Diplomacy, MEPHI.
