Strengthening Global Systems to Prevent and Respond to High Consequence Biological Threats Nuclear Threat Initiative 2021-11-23 | In March 2021, NTI partnered with the Munich Security Conference to conduct a tabletop exercise on reducing high-consequence biological threats. The exercise examined gaps in national and international biosecurity and pandemic preparedness architectures—exploring opportunities to improve prevention and response capabilities for high-consequence biological events. Participants included 19 senior leaders and experts from across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe with decades of combined experience in public health, biotechnology industry, international security, and philanthropy.This report, "Strengthening Global Systems to Prevent and Respond to High-Consequence Biological Threats: Results from the 2021 Tabletop Exercise Conducted in Partnership with the Munich Security Conference," written by Jaime M. Yassif, Ph.D., Kevin P. O’Prey, Ph.D., and Christopher R. Isaac, M.Sc., summarizes key findings from the exercise and offers actionable recommendations for the international community.The report launch on November 23, 2021 was chaired by NTI | bio Interim Vice President Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg and featured remarks from Twist Biosciences CEO and Co-Founder Dr. Emily Leproust, and NTI | bio Senior Fellow Dr. Jaime Yassif.Learn more about the event: nti.org/events/report-launch-strengthening-global-systems-to-prevent-and-respond-to-high-consequence-biological-threatsRead the report: nti.org/analysis/articles/strengthening-global-systems-to-prevent-and-respond-to-high-consequence-biological-threats
The IPNDV: a Decade of Progress (vertical) Nuclear Threat Initiative 2024-09-25 | Since 2014, the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) has brought together a diverse group of countries to identify and develop solutions to the technical and procedural challenges associated with effectively verifying nuclear disarmament. In 2024, the IPNDV is celebrating the great progress that it has made across 10 years, 3 phases of work, 13 exercises and technology demonstrations, and 19 in-person plenary and working meetings.This video was developed with generous financial support from the Government of Canada.
The IPNDV: a Decade of Progress Nuclear Threat Initiative 2024-09-25 | Since 2014, the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) has brought together a diverse group of countries to identify and develop solutions to the technical and procedural challenges associated with effectively verifying nuclear disarmament. In 2024, the IPNDV is celebrating the great progress that it has made across 10 years, 3 phases of work, 13 exercises and technology demonstrations, and 19 in-person plenary and working meetings.Learn more: ipndv.orgThis video was developed with generous financial support from the Government of Canada.
A Conversation with Dr. Luciana Borio on H5N1 Bird Flu Nuclear Threat Initiative 2024-07-18 | At our latest #NTISeminar Dr. Luciana “Lu” Borio discussed the ongoing outbreak of H5N1 bird flu.Dr. Borio, a member of the NTI Board of Directors, shared her insights on the outbreak in the United States and other countries, discussed reasons why H5N1 bird flu is causing growing alarm among public health experts, and offered suggestions for how government and civil society can respond more effectively to the outbreak and get ahead of the challenge before it worsens.
The IPNDV: 10 Years of Progress Nuclear Threat Initiative 2024-06-26 | Since 2014, the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) has brought together a diverse group of countries to identify and develop solutions to the technical and procedural challenges associated with effectively verifying nuclear disarmament. In 2024, the IPNDV is celebrating the great progress that it has made across 10 years, 3 phases of work, 13 exercises and technology demonstrations, and 19 in-person plenary and working meetings.This video was developed with generous financial support from the Government of Canada.
The Campaign to Make Nukes History Nuclear Threat Initiative 2024-05-08 | Oppenheimer started it. We can end it.With 13 Oscar nominations, Oppenheimer led this year’s Academy Awards with the most nominations and took home Best Picture. Make Nukes History reminds us that while Oppenheimer is history, nuclear weapons aren’t–but they should be.The film’s powerful ending underscores the chain reaction set off by the Manhattan Project, from the shock of the first blast to today’s threats with images of modern nuclear weapons. In a time of extreme risks–even one nuclear weapon is too many.Make Nukes History broke through the Oscar noise to raise awareness and build understanding that, together, we can end what Oppenheimer started.
A Conversation with Ambassador Laura Holgate on the Future of Nuclear Security Nuclear Threat Initiative 2024-05-08 | Ambassador Laura Holgate, U.S. Ambassador to the Vienna Office of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, joined us for an NTI Seminar on the “Future of Nuclear Security.” During the event, Ambassador Holgate shared her insights on the state of nuclear security, what governments can do to reduce nuclear terrorism risks, and the importance of the upcoming IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security (ICONS).A long-time leader on nuclear security issues, Ambassador Holgate has served in senior roles under three presidential administrations, including as U.S. Sherpa to the 2010-2016 nuclear security summit process.As Ambassador, she advances multilateral approaches to reduce global threats and to seize opportunities in the areas of nuclear nonproliferation, nuclear security, verification of the Iran nuclear deal, nuclear energy, nuclear testing, counterterrorism, anti-corruption, drug policy, cybercrime, and export control. From 2018 to 2021, Ambassador Holgate was vice president for materials risk management at NTI.Ambassador Holgate served as the special assistant to the president and senior director for weapons of mass destruction terrorism and threat reduction on the U.S. National Security Council from 2009 to 2016. In this role, she oversaw and coordinated the development of national policies and programs to reduce global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; detect, identify, secure and eliminate nuclear materials; prevent malicious use of biotechnology; and secure the civilian nuclear fuel cycle.
2024 Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition: A Conversation with the Experts Nuclear Threat Initiative 2024-03-27 | The eighth annual Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition is now open for applications! On March 27, NTI hosted a virtual webinar which included an overview of the 2024 Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition and a moderated discussion with an expert panel. This webinar is for anyone interested in applying to the 2024 competition. It summarizes competition requirements and includes a moderated panel discussion and Q&A with experts in the biosecurity community.NTI | bio hosts this competition to provide a platform for the next generation of global leaders in biosecurity to develop original concepts and share them with the wider biosecurity community. This year’s co-sponsors include 80,000 Hours, the Global Health Security Network, the iGEM Foundation, the International Federation of Biosafety Associations, the Next Generation Global Health Security Network, Pandemic Action Network, SynBio Africa, and Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation.Learn more about the competition and how to apply:nti.org/news/eighth-annual-next-generation-for-biosecurity-competition-open-for-applications
Introducing IBBIS: Safeguarding Bioscience and Biotechnology for a Safer Future Nuclear Threat Initiative 2024-02-28 | Amid rapid advances in bioscience and biotechnology that could pose significant global security risks without effective guardrails, NTI launched the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) at the 2024 Munich Security Conference. IBBIS is a new, independent organization based in Geneva that will work with global partners to strengthen biosecurity norms and develop innovative tools to uphold them. IBBIS will help reduce the risk of catastrophic events that could result from deliberate abuse or accidental misuse of bioscience and biotechnology so they can flourish, safely and responsibly.Learn more at: https://ibbis.bio
The International Common Mechanism for DNA Synthesis Screening Nuclear Threat Initiative 2024-02-05 | DNA synthesis is a service that is widely used in bioscience research and in laboratories around the world. It supports the growing bioeconomy and is critically important for a wide range of biotechnology advances. However, safeguards for DNA synthesis technology—to ensure that providers do not inadvertently sell the building blocks of dangerous pathogens to malicious actors—have not kept pace with growing global demand for this service and declining costs.The international Common Mechanism will help DNA providers more effectively screen orders and customers to prevent DNA synthesis technology from being exploited. By providing this software, we seek to ensure that every DNA provider has access to DNA synthesis screening tools. This makes it easier for them to screen DNA sequences and customers efficiently and at lower cost, resulting in improved global biosecurity and biosafety. The Common Mechanism was developed and is supported by an international Technical Consortium of experts from across industry, academia, government, and civil society.Learn more at www.IBBIS.bio
Global Security in the Age of AI: A Conversation with Eric Schmidt Nuclear Threat Initiative 2024-01-24 | Join NTI’s Ernest J. Moniz for a conversation with Eric Schmidt, former CEO and chairman of Google, about how artificial intelligence is transforming the foundations of nuclear and biological security—and what it means for our future.As governments grapple with how to effectively harness the benefits and mitigate the risks of emerging technologies, it is essential to hear from the industry leaders and innovators who have ushered in this age of AI.Eric Schmidt was Google’s CEO and chairman from 2001-2011. More recently, he served as chairman of the U.S. National Security Commission for Artificial Intelligence. In 2021, he launched the Special Competitive Studies Project, an initiative to strengthen America’s long-term global competitiveness for a future where AI and other emerging technologies reshape our national security, economy, and society. Schmidt co-authored the bestselling book The Age of AI: And Our Human Future with Dr. Henry Kissinger and Daniel Huttenlocher.
NTI Seminar: Putin’s War and Putin’s World with Rolf Mowatt Larssen Nuclear Threat Initiative 2024-01-17 | This NTI Seminar featured a conversation with former top intelligence officer Rolf Mowatt-Larssen on “Putin’s War and Putin’s World.” With deep expertise on Russia and nuclear security, Mowatt-Larssen will share his insights on both the war in Ukraine and Vladimir Putin the leader. Where are we in the Ukraine war? How will it end? What makes Putin tick? What drives his decision making? What are his intentions and character traits?Mowatt-Larssen was the inaugural William J. Perry Distinguished Fellow at NTI, where he supported NTI’s work on global threat reduction. He is a former senior fellow at the Belfer Center at Harvard University, having served until July 2019 as Director of the Center’s Intelligence Project. Before his tenure at Harvard, he served for more than three years as the Director of Intelligence and Counterintelligence at the U.S. Department of Energy.Previously, Mowatt-Larssen spent 23 years as a CIA operations officer in various domestic and international posts, including Chief of the Europe Division in the Directorate of Operations, Chief of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Department, Counterterrorist Center, and Deputy Associate Director of Central Intelligence for Military Support. He also served in numerous overseas assignments in Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. Prior to his career in intelligence, Mowatt-Larssen served as an officer in the U.S. Army. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
Report Launch: The Convergence of Artificial Intelligence and the Life Sciences Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-11-01 | Amid significant advances in artificial intelligence (AI), a new NTI | bio report, "The Convergence of Artificial Intelligence and the Life Sciences: Safeguarding Technology, Rethinking Governance, and Preventing Catastrophe," released in London on the margins of the UK government’s AI Safety Summit, recommends urgent action and oversight by governments, industry, and the scientific community to reduce risks associated with AI-enabled capabilities to engineer living systems.AI-bio technologies offer tremendous benefits for modern bioscience and bioengineering. They can support the rapid development of vaccines and therapeutics, enable the development of new materials, foster economic development, and help fight climate change. However, AI tools and capabilities that enable the engineering of living systems also could be accidentally or deliberately misused to cause significant harm, which could result in a global biological catastrophe.Learn more and explore the report at www.nti.org
Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Nuclear and Biosecurity Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-10-31 | The October 2023 NTI Board of Directors dinner featured a panel discussion about the implications of AI technologies for nuclear and biosecurity with Under Secretary for Nuclear Security at the Department of Energy (DOE) and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Jill Hruby and Twist Bioscience Co-founder and CEO Emily Leproust. The discussion was moderated by Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, with opening remarks by NTI Co-Chair and CEO Ernest J. Moniz.
Joan Rohlfing on the Ongoing Challenge of Nuclear Security Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-10-18 | NTI President and COO Joan Rohlfing explains why governments must reprioritize the security and management of nuclear materials, weapons and technologies at the launch of the 2023 NTI Nuclear Security Index.
AI and the Bomb: A Conversation with Author James Johnson Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-10-11 | Will AI make accidental nuclear war more likely? If so, how might these risks be reduced? AI and the Bomb provides an innovative and engaging examination of the potential effects of AI technology on nuclear strategy and escalation risk. The book examines theories and concepts about nuclear strategy in today’s digital age and offers crucial insights for policymakers and experts.This NTI Seminar featured conversation with Dr. James Johnson, author of "AI and The Bomb: Nuclear Strategy and Risk in the Digital Age."Dr. Johnson is a lecturer in strategic studies in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Previously, he was a non-resident fellow with the Modern War Institute at West Point and a postdoctoral research fellow at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey. His next book, The AI Commander: Centaur Teaming, Command, and Ethical Dilemmas is scheduled for release in 2024.Learn more at www.nti.org
2023 Cranes for Our Future Campaign Recap Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-08-30 | People around the world marked the anniversaries of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings by taking part in #CranesforOurFuture and calling for a future free from nuclear weapons.To participate in the campaign around the August anniversaries of the 1945 bombings of Japan, people folded and shared paper cranes on social media with messages about why moving closer to a world without nuclear weapons is important to them. Now in its third year, #CranesForOurFuture is the largest public digital demonstration for a world without nuclear weapons, reaching and inspiring millions.#CranesForOurFuture was established by the Hiroshima Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture, the Nuclear Threat Initiative, and Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace. The effort is joined by a broad coalition of institutions and public figures committed to a safer future for all, with support and participation growing each year.Learn more at CranesForOurFuture.org.
Launch Event: The 2023 NTI Nuclear Security index Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-07-19 | Join us for the launch of the sixth edition of the NTI Nuclear Security Index—a comprehensive assessment of progress on nuclear security across 175 countries and Taiwan. This report is being released at a dangerous time: nuclear facilities face an array of risks from terrorists, new disruptive technologies, and climate change–related events, to military assaults during war, such as those on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.Developed by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and Economist Impact (EI) in 2012, the NTI Index uses publicly available information to track progress and recommend actions for governments, regulators, international institutions, industry, and civil society to take to better protect nuclear and radioactive materials and nuclear facilities around the world.
#CranesForOurFuture - Fold a Crane for Our Future Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-07-13 | This August between the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, people around the world will fold and share paper cranes on social media with the hashtag #CranesForOurFuture and a message about what a future without nuclear weapons means to them. A safer and more peaceful world is possible if we join together to demand it. Add your crane to the movement.Learn more at: www.cranesforourfuture.org
2023 Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-07-12 | The seventh annual Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition is now open for applications! NTI | bio, along with the Next Generation for Global Health Security (GHS) Network (NextGen), the iGEM Foundation, 80,000 Hours, SynBio Africa, and the Global Health Security Network (GHSN), hosts this competition to provide a platform for the next generation of global leaders in biosecurity to produce and present original research to the wider biosecurity community.This webinar is for anyone interested in submitting an application to the 2023 competition. It provides a summary of competition requirements and includes a discussion with experts in the biosecurity community moderated by a former competition winner. Learn more about the competition and how to apply:nti.org/news/7th-annual-next-generation-for-biosecurity-competition-open-for-applications
2023 #CranesForOurFuture Campaign Video Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-07-06 | Every August, the #CranesForOurFuture campaign brings people and organizations together for a global expression of hope around the dark anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Together, we are building a moment when a mom on TikTok joins a nun in Iowa, Yoko Ono, members of Congress, and the UN Secretary General in calling for a world without nuclear weapons. Join us this year between August 4 and 9, by posting a picture on your social media of a paper crane or a graphic from our digital toolkit with the hashtag #CranesForOurFuture and a message about why we must move closer to, not further from, a world without nuclear weapons#CranesForOurFuture was established by the Hiroshima Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture, the Nuclear Threat Initiative, and Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace. We are joined by a broad coalition of institutions and public figures committed to a safer future for all in a world without nuclear weapons. Learn more at: www.cranesforourfuture.org
How IBBIS Can Support Researchers Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-06-15 | The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) is a new organization that works collaboratively with global partners to strengthen biosecurity norms and develop innovative tools to uphold them. IBBIS will work with a diverse range of stakeholders including the academic research community, industry, public health, governments and philanthropy to safeguard science and reduce the risk of catastrophic events that could result from deliberate abuse or accidental misuse of bioscience and biotechnology. Learn more at www.ibbis.bio.
How IBBIS Can Support National Governments Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-06-15 | The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) is a new organization that works collaboratively with global partners to strengthen biosecurity norms and develop innovative tools to uphold them. IBBIS will work with a diverse range of stakeholders including the academic research community, industry, public health, governments and philanthropy to safeguard science and reduce the risk of catastrophic events that could result from deliberate abuse or accidental misuse of bioscience and biotechnology. Learn more at www.ibbis.bio.
How IBBIS Can Support the Biotech Industry Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-06-15 | The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) is a new organization that works collaboratively with global partners to strengthen biosecurity norms and develop innovative tools to uphold them. IBBIS will work with a diverse range of stakeholders including the academic research community, industry, public health, governments and philanthropy to safeguard science and reduce the risk of catastrophic events that could result from deliberate abuse or accidental misuse of bioscience and biotechnology. Learn more at www.ibbis.bio.
NTI Seminar: Inheriting The Bomb with Mariana Budjeryn Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-05-18 | This NTI Seminar featured a conversation with Dr. Mariana Budjeryn, author of the new book "Inheriting the Bomb: The Collapse of the USSR and the Nuclear Disarmament of Ukraine," which tells the story of how and why Ukraine ultimately abandoned its claim to the nuclear weapons on its territory when the Soviet Union collapsed.Dr. Budjeryn’s book offers a nuanced understanding of Ukraine’s decision-making as a Soviet successor state striving to establish its independence and security in the context of the unprecedented dissolution of a large nuclear-armed state. Her comprehensive account explains how domestic politics, economic needs, diplomatic pressure, and the salience of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty influenced Ukraine’s decision to remain non-nuclear and averted a looming proliferation crisis.Read in the context of Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine, Budjeryn’s deeply researched book sheds needed light on the past and offers broader lessons and questions for present-day debates about the risks and benefits of nuclear weapons, the importance of the non-proliferation regime, and the necessity and possibility of pursuing nuclear disarmament.
Benchtop DNA Synthesis Devices: Capabilities, Biosecurity Implications, and Governance Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-05-11 | Join the discussion. Submit your questions here: stagetimer.io/q/645b2aeac9e111d716591af9Synthetic DNA is used by bioscience laboratories globally and plays a fundamental role in a wide range of science and biotechnology advances. A new generation of benchtop DNA synthesis devices will soon enable users to print DNA more quickly and easily. This advanced technology has the potential to disrupt the DNA synthesis market and its associated biosecurity practices and could allow malicious actors to more easily obtain pathogen or toxin DNA. This new report addresses the anticipated capabilities of these devices, their biosecurity implications, and governance, and makes recommendations for future oversight. It draws on more than 30 interviews with experts from benchtop DNA synthesis companies, the broader biotechnology industry, the biosecurity and bioscience research communities, and other sectors.
Reshaping Nuclear Narratives Online: Pope GIFs, TikTok stickers, and anime memes Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-03-17 | The next time you go to find the right reaction GIF in a text message and type in “nuke,” you’ll likely only see mushroom cloud images. We aspire to change that, and we want to share both how it’s possible and how you can help.The Nuclear Threat Initiative partnered with the cultural organizing agency TaskForce to insert healthier messages into a set of image libraries that supply the world’s most important social networks and messaging applications. A pilot set of 25 animated graphics has resulted in an estimated 180,000 peer-to-peer shares and 40 million views in less than a year.The briefing featured speakers from the agency TaskForce, after an introduction by NTI’s Ravi Garla. We’ll close with Q&A for attendees.
Dr. Vincent Intondi on the June 12, 1982, Disarmament Rally and Beyond Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-03-15 | Watch our conversation with Dr. Vincent Intondi, author of the new book Saving the World from Nuclear War, which examines how the June 12, 1982 rally for nuclear disarmament paved the way for a new generation of activists.On that fateful day, one million people filled the streets of New York City and rallied in Central Park to show support for the United Nations’ Second Special Session on Disarmament. In his book, Intondi draws on archival materials and interviews with rally organizers and activists in Central Park to explore this demonstration from its inception to the historic day itself.Dr. Intondi is a professor of history and director of the Institute for Race, Justice, and Civic Engagement at Montgomery College in Takoma Park, Maryland. He is considered the preeminent authority on the intersection of race and nuclear weapons and is also the author of African Americans Against the Bomb: Nuclear Weapons, Colonialism, and the Black Freedom Movement.
The Biden Administration’s New Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism Nuclear Threat Initiative 2023-03-03 | Join us as White House Assistant to the President for Homeland Security Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and other senior U.S. officials discuss the Biden administration’s new strategy to counter weapons of mass destruction terrorism and advance nuclear and radiological security. The strategy establishes new U.S. efforts to prevent non-state actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, while refreshing long-standing approaches to secure and reduce weapons usable materials - areas that remain critical to U.S. and international security. Risks, technologies, and strategies are evolving in global efforts to secure, reduce, and eliminate nuclear and radiological materials, and the Biden administration will outline its new plan to address these threats.Dr. Sherwood-Randall will make opening remarks, followed by a discussion with senior representatives from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, moderated by NTI Co-Chair and CEO Ernest J. Moniz.
#HackedNukes Explained Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-12-22 | When we talk about the risks of nuclear war today, we have to talk about…computers.Nuclear and tech experts know that all digital systems are at risk for cyberattacks—including nuclear weapons systems. That means that our own warheads, delivery vehicles, and the technology we use to control them are prime targets for hackers. The systems we rely on to detect incoming attacks are susceptible, too. These cyber vulnerabilities in nuclear weapons systems undermine the safety and security of nuclear weapons around the world.Since the first explosion of a nuclear weapon in 1945, the world has avoided an accidental, unauthorized, or miscalculated launch. But there have been dozens of close calls—and in today’s cyber age, our luck could run out.In this video, national security expert and former Special Advisor to the U.S. President Richard A. Clarke explains why the risk of cyber attacks on nuclear weapons systems should have us all concerned—and what we can do about it.
NTI Common Mechanism for DNA Synthesis Screening Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-12-08 | The Nuclear Threat Initiative and the World Economic Forum are bringing together leading experts to develop a shared international system or “Common Mechanism” to make DNA synthesis screening feasible and effective for all providers.
IBBIS & the International Common Mechanism for DNA Synthesis Screening Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-12-06 | Bioscience and biotechnology advances are vital for fighting disease, protecting the environment, and promoting economic development. However, these same innovations can also increase the risks of accidental misuse or deliberate abuse with potentially catastrophic consequences.NTI is working with partners around the world to develop solutions that both strengthen and uphold biosecurity norms to ensure that modern bioscience and biotechnology can advance and flourish, safely and responsibly. Come learn about our groundbreaking efforts to develop an international Common Mechanism for DNA synthesis screening as well as our progress toward launching the International Biosafety & Biosecurity Initiative for Science (IBBIS), a new independent international organization dedicated to reducing emerging biological risks associated with technology advances.
The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-12-06 | Bioscience and biotechnology advances offer tremendous potential benefits—including strengthening public health, combating climate change, and promoting economic development. However, these same innovations also can pose unique challenges and increase risks of accidental misuse or deliberate abuse with potentially catastrophic consequences. The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) is a new organization that works collaboratively with global partners to strengthen biosecurity norms and develop innovative tools to uphold them. We undertake this work to safeguard science and reduce the risk of catastrophic events that could result from deliberate abuse or accidental misuse of bioscience and biotechnology. IBBIS is designed to be small, agile, and responsive to emerging threats. IBBIS will collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders including the academic research community, industry, public health, governments and philanthropy. IBBIS’ efforts will complement the important work of the World Health Organization, the Biological Weapons Convention, and other regional and international organizations. Learn more at www.ibbis.bio
Reducing U.S.-China Nuclear Risks: Prospects for Arms Control Cooperation Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-11-18 | This NTI Seminar featured a conversation with Dr. Tong Zhao where he discussed the future of U.S.-China nuclear relations. Zhao is a senior fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a visiting research scholar at Princeton University’s Science and Global Security Program.The strategic relationship between the United States and China is strained. At the same time, China is expected to significantly expand its nuclear weapons arsenal over the next decade while the United States continues to modernize its nuclear deterrent. In this era of increasing great power tension, there is a heightened risk of blunder or miscalculation that could lead to catastrophe.What can be done to reduce these risks? How can dialogue and arms control cooperation between the United States and China be advanced? What is the view from Beijing on strategic competition and cooperation with the United States? Are there realistic options beyond traditional arms control to establish strategic stability between Washington and Beijing?The event was hosted by Ernest Moniz and moderated by Lynn Rusten.
Breaking Down the Cyber-Nuclear Threat Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-10-31 | When we talk about the risks of nuclear war today, we have to talk about…computers.Nuclear and tech experts know that all digital systems are at risk for cyberattacks—including nuclear weapons systems. That means that our own warheads, delivery vehicles, and the technology we use to control them are prime targets for hackers. The systems we rely on to detect incoming attacks are susceptible, too. These cyber vulnerabilities in nuclear weapons systems undermine the safety and security of nuclear weapons around the world.Since the first explosion of a nuclear weapon in 1945, the world has avoided an accidental, unauthorized, or miscalculated launch. But there have been dozens of close calls—and in today’s cyber age, our luck could run out.In this video, national security expert and former Special Advisor to the U.S. President Richard A. Clarke explains why the risk of cyber attacks on nuclear weapons systems should have us all concerned—and what we can do about it.
Nuclear Security: A Foundational Element of the Non-Proliferation Regime Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-10-13 | The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), with the support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Global Affairs Canada, presented a side event at the 10th Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference (RevCon) focused on explaining how nuclear security is foundational to all three of these pillars of the non-proliferation regime: disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.The event took place on August 9, 2022.
Nuclear Milestones: 30 Years of the U.S. Moratorium on Explosive Nuclear Testing Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-09-30 | NTI’s National Security Consultant Steve Andreasen explains how the United States’ decision to stop explosive nuclear testing was a critical step towards building a safer world. But thirty years on, there is still more work to be done to codify the testing moratorium in international law.Read a statement from NTI CEO and Co-Chair, Ernest J. Moniz marking this anniversary: nti.org/news/statement-from-ernest-j-moniz-on-the-30th-anniversary-of-the-u-s-explosive-nuclear-testing-moratorium
NTI Seminar: The Hegemon’s Tool Kit Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-09-30 | Dr. Rebecca Davis Gibbons, an assistant professor at the University of Southern Maine and a renowned expert on nonproliferation, Juined us for an NTI Seminar to discuss her new book, The Hegemon’s Tool Kit: U.S. Leadership and the Politics of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime.Why do most states in the international system adhere to the nuclear nonproliferation regime? The answer lies, Gibbons asserts, in decades of painstaking efforts undertaken by the U.S. government. As the most powerful country during the nuclear age, the United States had many tools with which to persuade other states to join or otherwise support nonproliferation agreements.At a moment when the nuclear nonproliferation regime is under duress—and as countries gather in Vienna for the IAEA’s General Conference—Gibbons provides a trenchant analysis of the international system that has, for more than 50 years, controlled the spread of these catastrophic weapons. The Hegemon’s Tool Kit details how that regime works and how, disastrously, it might falter.More: nti.org/events/nti-seminar-the-hegemons-tool-kit
NTI in Focus: The Global Enterprise Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-08-04 | The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) created the Global Enterprise to Strengthen Non-Proliferation and Disarmament to help strengthen the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and contribute to a successful 10th NPT Review Conference. In this video, NTI experts discuss the Global Enterprise's mission and framework for progress.Learn more: nti.org/globalenterprise
Fold a Crane for Our Future (Japanese Subtitles) Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-07-19 | The power to craft a safer future is in our hands. This August 5-9, between the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, people around the world will fold and share paper cranes on social media with the hashtag #CranesForOurFuture and a message about what a future without nuclear weapons means to them. A safer and more peaceful world is possible if we join together to demand it. Add your crane to the movement.
Fold a Crane for Our Future Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-07-19 | The power to craft a safer future is in our hands. This August 5-9, between the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, people around the world will fold and share paper cranes on social media with the hashtag #CranesForOurFuture and a message about what a future without nuclear weapons means to them. A safer and more peaceful world is possible if we join together to demand it. Add your crane to the movement.
Jaime Yassif explains the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-07-01 | The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) is working with international stakeholders to establish the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science – IBBIS - an independent organization dedicated to reducing emerging biological risks associated with rapid technology advances. IBBIS will work collaboratively with global partners to strengthen biosecurity norms and develop innovative tools to uphold them. NTI | bio Vice President Jaime Yassif explains more. Visit nti.org/ibbis for more information.
Hayley Severance explains the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-07-01 | The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) is working with global stakeholders to establish the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS), an independent entity dedicated to reducing emerging biological risks associated with rapid technology advances. IBBIS will strengthen international biosecurity norms and develop innovative, practical tools to reduce biological risks throughout the research and development life cycle — from funding, through execution, and on to publication or commercialization. NTI | bio Deputy Vice President Hayley Severance explains more. Visit nti.org/ibbis for more information.
IPNDV JUNEX 2022 - Animation 3 Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-06-24 | The International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verifications's (IPNDV) JUNEX 2022 tabletop exercise is based in our fictional country of “Ipindovia” where participants are examining inspection and verification processes prior to transporting a nuclear weapon from an ICBM base to a long-term storage site. These animations depict the steps that participants will be thinking about over the course of the exercise. Learn more about the 14 steps of nuclear disarmament verification here: bit.ly/3Huj7ww
IPNDV JUNEX 2022 - Animation 2 Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-06-24 | The International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verifications's (IPNDV) JUNEX 2022 tabletop exercise is based in our fictional country of “Ipindovia” where participants are examining inspection and verification processes prior to transporting a nuclear weapon from an ICBM base to a long-term storage site. These animations depict the steps that participants will be thinking about over the course of the exercise. Learn more about the 14 steps of nuclear disarmament verification here: bit.ly/3Huj7ww
IPNDV JUNEX 2022 - Animation 1 Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-06-24 | The International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verifications's (IPNDV) JUNEX 2022 tabletop exercise is based in our fictional country of “Ipindovia” where participants are examining inspection and verification processes prior to transporting a nuclear weapon from an ICBM base to a long-term storage site. These animations depict the steps that participants will be thinking about over the course of the exercise. Learn more about the 14 steps of nuclear disarmament verification here: bit.ly/3Huj7ww
Angela Kane explains the need for a Joint Assessment Mechanism to determine pandemic origins Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-06-23 | The international community lacks the capability to rapidly discern the source of high-consequence biological events of unknown origin, limiting response efforts and leaving the world vulnerable to future biothreats that could exceed the devastating impacts of COVID-19. NTI Sam Nunn Distinguished Fellow Angela Kane explains how NTI is working international partners to establish a Joint Assessment Mechanism to rapidly identify the origins of high-consequence biological events. Visit nti.org/bio for more information.
Gabrielle Essix explains the Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-06-23 | NTI | bio Program Officer Gabrielle Essix explains the Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition, an annual competition sponsored by the Nuclear Threat Initiative and partners. The 2022 competitions winners have been announced! Watch for details. Visit: nti.org/nextgenbio for more.
Investigating High Consequence Biological Events of Unknown Origin Nuclear Threat Initiative 2022-06-10 | NTI and the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Nonproliferation (VCDNP) hosted an event to explore the possibility of establishing a new “Joint Assessment Mechanism” to strengthen UN-system capabilities to investigate high-consequence biological events of unknown origin. Ongoing uncertainty surrounding the source of COVID-19 has highlighted critical gaps in the global biosecurity architecture, including the ability to rapidly discern the source of emerging pandemics. The current conflict in Ukraine has drawn additional attention to these issues, with both disinformation alleging bioweapons development in Ukraine and concerns that Russia may itself use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine as part of a false flag operation.To meet this need, it will be important to bolster the capabilities of the United Nations system to investigate pandemic origins-whether naturally emerging, accidental or deliberate. As a critical part of this work, the international community will need to fill gaps in capabilities to assess the source of biological events of unknown origin, which falls at the “seam” between existing mechanisms. The aim is to develop a 21st century mechanism, which would take advantage of new tools, methods and technologies, such as bioinformatics, data science, and AI, to build a capability suited to today’s risk environment.Learn more: nti.org/events/investigating-high-consequence-biological-events-of-unknown-origin
