CNS News & Views: June 2021

Middlebury Institute of International Studies

June 2021

CNS Director Selected for 2021 Thérèse Delpech Memorial Award

Founder and Director of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies Dr. William Potter was awarded the 2021 Thérèse Delpech Memorial Award on June 23,2021. Here's what one former student had to say:

“Bill helps his students to find their passion and then works literally day and night to help them build a career around it. ... It is his deep respect for good ideas regardless of age or experience that empowers those he mentors to go out and change the world.”

The Thérèse Delpech Memorial Award is presented at each Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference to an individual who has rendered exceptional service to the nongovernmental nuclear policy community. Exceptional service includes major intellectual contributions to critical debates and encompasses the time-consuming, often unrecognized work needed to sustain and strengthen our community: mentoring young women and men; constructively critiquing the work of others; creating fora for discussion; building networks; and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. This year’s award was presented by Ms. Sarah Bidgood, Director of CNS’s Eurasia Nonproliferation Program.

Watch award presentation

Masters Students in Dual Degree Program Defend Theses

In June, students of the MIIS/MGIMO Dual Degree MA Program in Global Security, Nuclear Policy, and WMD Nonproliferation defended their final thesis papers before Russia’s State Examination Commission. Thesis topics included strategic stability in Russian-American relations, Iran’s missile program, the DPRK’s nuclear weapons program, implications of 3D printed drones for the arms control regime, and the future of nuclear energy in the Middle East.

Students presented qualitative research on topical issues from both the practical and theoretical points of view. The dual-degree program is developed cooperatively by Russia’s PIR Center, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), and the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS).

Nuclear Risk Reduction and the Tenth NPT Review Conference

On May 31st, the VCDNP held a webinar on the risks of nuclear weapons use. Participants discussed the new working paper on nuclear risk reduction measures prepared by the Stockholm Initiative on Nuclear Disarmament. The webinar was convened to discuss risk reduction measures in the context of the upcoming Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.

Featured speakers offered feedback and recommendations focused on feasible proposals with concrete language, trust and confidence-building measures, increasing mutual understanding of capabilities and doctrines, and developing effective crisis prevention and management tools. Challenges examined included the subjective nature of perceiving and defining risk, placing additional obligations on NNWS, and addressing no-first-use policies. The webinar was the first in the new series dedicated to the upcoming Tenth NPT Review Conference and was organized with support from the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs.

Watch the webinar

Securing Sensitive Technologies: An Industry Roundtable

CNS hosted a Virtual Industry Roundtable event on May 18th with the goal of facilitating an exchange of perspectives on securing sensitive technology supply chains in today’s strategic trade control landscape. The roundtable took place over two sessions. The first aimed to define risks related to illicit acquisition of sensitive technologies, especially with regards to concerns surrounding China and Russia. The second session was focused on countering these risks through compliance and due-diligence related strategies.

As part of a wider series of activities on strategic trade competition, this inaugural roundtable brought together industry perspectives on emerging export control trends and risks. Many valuable insights were gleaned, including strategies to elevate strategic trade concerns within companies, the advantages and disadvantages of list-based controls and end-user controls, and methods to include new technologies in due diligence efforts.

Nonproliferation Education for Future Leaders

The 2021 Summer Undergraduate Nonproliferation Fellowship Program began on June 7, 2021. CNS selected 13 outstanding undergraduate fellows with diverse backgrounds from around the country. Participating fellows represent some of the nation’s top schools, including Boston University, Brown University, the College of William and Mary, Cornell University, Middlebury College, Ohio State University, Trinity Washington University, and the University of Georgia.

Throughout the program, fellows receive invaluable job training and work closely with CNS experts on ongoing research and education projects. Fellows also participate in an engaging lecture series, participate in an Arms Control Negotiation Simulation on North Korea’s Nuclear Threats, and have the opportunity to undertake an independent research project with mentorship from CNS scholars.