clear weapons delivery, and missile in terception systems. The requirement for international conferences on disarmament every three years: the agenda of the first should consider hypersonic weapons and US Russia commitment to reduc ing arsenals, with others committing not to increase theirs

PERSONAL ACCOUNT

Marrying politics and technology: inaugurating the Moscow Science Diplomacy School project

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.

Closing 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.

She was among CYG members participating in the second CTBT Science and Diplomacy Symposium held in Vienna in 2018.

What I noticed during the event was that the idea of integrating people from strikingly different fields in the framework of nuclear testing issues – is challenging but fruitful and rewarding both for the organizers and participants.

Nevertheless, it is always a problem for diplomats and others who may have brushed science aside to really understand, appreciate and benefit from science communication.

Inspired by the example of the Science Diplomacy school established by the Trieste, Italy, based World Academy of Sciences for the Advancement of Science in Developing Countries, I was determined to promote science diplomacy in Russia. college and make it more feasible for students to bridge the gap between the fields of science and diplomacy. The school

From 24-27April, 30 pre-selected undergraduate and graduate students from 15 leading universities in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara and Novosibirsk, including students from India and Kazakhstan, took part in the first Science Diplomacy School at the National Research Nuclear University (MEPhI) and Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) university.

The school was organized by the International Center for Public Diplomacy, of the Science Diplomacy Club MEPhI, and the Student Scientific Society MGIMO of by the International Security Club MGIMO. “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. 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.

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.

But in order to nurture a generation familiar with science and diplomacy, we need to start in the first years of 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). Three online sessions were dedicated to the CTBTO, its youth group and Women in Peace and Security, organized by PAVEL PALAZHCHENKO (L) U.S. Government, free of known restrictions under copyright law

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 the nuts and bolts of the CTBTO and IAEA’s work. Panel discussions on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Iran’s nuclear programme and international relations were also held. As well, rocket technologies, classifications of ballistic missiles, nuclear physics including the physics of explosion, geospatial tools for monitoring nuclear facilities, as well as the possibility of nuclear and radiological terrorism, were discussed.

A paramount goal of the school was to integrate young people from different backgrounds into teams to provide the draft of a model arms control agreement for the 21st century. By applying scientific knowledge and diplomatic approaches to solving international security conundrums participants learned from each other and results were more granular and sophisticated.

Among policy recommendations was the creation of a treaty providing different categories of states: official nuclear weapons possessors; de-facto possessors ; states that voluntarily abandoned nuclear weapons and; states without nuclear weapons. Other recommendations included: 1. The enforcement of comprehensive monitoring over nuclear weapons, nu2. The requirement for international conferences on disarmament every three years: the agenda of the first should consider hypersonic weapons and US Russia commitment to reducing arsenals, with others committing not to increase theirs. 3. The introduction of ceilings for the number of nuclear warheads, which could later be reduced proportionally by all the de-facto nuclear powers. 4. The guarantee of a nuclear-free peaceful zone in outer space. On the school’s final day, participants presented their projects on the future of arms control for evaluation to RIAC, MEPhI and PIR Center experts. Pavel Palazhchenko, chief English interpreter for Mikhail Gorbachev, and an arms control "The MEPhI–MGIMO Science

Diplomacy School is the best grass-root initiative in this field I have taken part in over the past few years, and I do hope they hold such sessions regularly." Adlan Margoyev 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.