8th Annual SYP Conference: Call for presentations
Theme: ‘Stepping back from the brink of nuclear war: fresh thinking on peace and disarmament’
Location: Central London, Venue TBC / Online via zoom
Date: Saturday 15th March 2025
Get involved!
SYP wants to give students and young professionals the opportunity to present their thoughts and findings on peace, security and disarmament. This is your chance to share your views, get feedback, meet new people, and hear from some of the leading voices in the field. The conference will help you develop new ideas as well as socialise, network and make new friends.
We are especially keen to hear from people with alternative and unconventional approaches to the nuclear weapons debate. Our interest is in finding original ideas to support diplomacy, peace-building and disarmament. You don’t need to have a background in nuclear weapons to apply–we are most keen to hear from people with an enthusiasm for and interest in the subject. Those with backgrounds in public policy, social science, natural science, and engineering are welcome.
International context
The possibility of a nuclear conflict is a subject of immediate and growing concern. Despite the opportunity costs and catastrophic risks involved, some of the nuclear weapon states are optimising their nuclear arsenals, producing ever more advanced weaponry. Developments in conventional arms, such as precision-guided munitions, and emerging cyber and AI capabilities, are also potentially increasing the danger of nuclear war. This conference will explore the arguments for and against nuclear weapons and what action citizens and governments can take to create a more peaceful future for all.
Conference focus
Key questions we want to explore at the conference include:
- How can we prevent the threat and use of nuclear weapons?
- Is the elimination of nuclear weapons realisable and desirable?
- What are the costs and risks of nuclear modernisation and deterrence?
- How should nuclear weapons be regulated and disposed of, for example, in terms of arms control and disarmament?
- What impact is emerging and disruptive technology having on nuclear weapons?
- How do nuclear weapons interact with current trends in international politics?
The conference will provide a space for students and young professionals to share their ideas, be creative, and think big. The event will include prominent figures from civil society, academia, and government. Sessions will include: expert talks; panel discussions; networking; creative activities; how to get involved with SYP.
How to submit your presentation
Submissions from students at all levels of study, non-academics and from all disciplines are welcome. If you are uncertain about whether the topic you wish to present on fits with the conference brief, please do either contact us or submit your idea, as we are open to a range of approaches.
Proposals should be no longer than 400 words and include the following:
- Your name, organisation / university affiliation, position / educational level, and your discipline (e.g. what you study)
- The provisional title of your presentation or poster
- A summary of your presentation, including its context
- Specific policy or other recommendations, for government, international organisations or civil society, are encouraged
If you prefer, you can submit a proposal for a poster to present your ideas and research. This will be displayed at the conference where you can explain your work to attendees. Conference posters can include a mixture of text, tables, graphs, and pictures.
Please submit your proposal to SYP UK Coordinator Dr Tim Street: syp@britishpugwash.org
The deadline for submissions is: Friday 31st January 2025
If accepted, we ask that you present for 5 – 15 minutes (followed by questions) at the conference. We would prefer it if you can present in person but would consider online presentations. Presenters are eligible to apply for travel expenses to the conference.
We would like to include a short summary of papers in the conference proceedings, which will be shared among British Pugwash’s membership, with international partners, and on our website.
Panels will be chaired by senior members of British Pugwash, hailing from the worlds of diplomacy, academia and science.
Proposal topics
We welcome proposals on all topics relating to nuclear weapons, but particularly those addressing questions of modernisation (e.g. costs and risks), existential dangers, regulation, arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament.
We encourage papers engaging with the concepts of global and regional security, including contested ideas, practices and technologies of nuclear arms. We are also keen for presentations on the technical requirements of arms control / disarmament, the impact of emerging and disruptive technology (including missile defence, AI and cyber) on nuclear weapons systems.
Other themes that might be addressed include:
Nuclear security, deterrence, the nuclear ban treaty (TPNW), multilateral agreements and processes e.g. at the United Nations, harmful impacts of nuclear weapons systems, proliferation challenges, the legacy of nuclear testing, the interaction between the climate crisis and nuclear weapons, civil society and protest movements.
About Student / Young Pugwash
Student / Young Pugwash (SYP) is a network of students, researchers and younger people interested in a wide range of peace and security issues. We are the youth wing of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, founded in 1957 by Albert Einstein, Bertrand Russell, Joseph Rotblat, and other prominent public figures and scientists.
Our annual conference is an opportunity for young and emerging experts to share their ideas and research from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds. Conference attendees will be a mix of established experts from the Pugwash community (e.g. diplomats, scientists, academics, campaigners) and students / young researchers.
For examples of our past conferences, visit:
https://britishpugwash.org/student-young-pugwash/annual-conference/
Direct any questions to: syp@britishpugwash.org