Brenna Gautam is a CTBTO Youth Group Member who will be working with the Project to post brief daily updates about the on-goings at the conference as it relates to the CTBTO Youth Group, civil society, and capacity building. She is a student at Georgetown Law School. Shervin Taheran is the program and policy associate at the Arms Control Association.
Day 5: Friday, June 30, 2017
The final day of the 2017 Science and Technology conference began with a discussion of how the CTBT can be advanced through “science diplomacy.” In addition to more traditional confidence building measures such as information sharing and research collaboration between government scientists, panelists proposed the establishment of summer schools and scholarship programs in the nonproliferation field and applauded the increased role of the CTBTO youth group at scientific conferences.
Although the conversation focused on the actions of scientific communities, panelists noted that there needs to be political will and vibrant civil society engagement to fully reap the benefits of science diplomacy. Later, scientists discussed how to use the International Monitoring System and other monitoring technologies to foster global development by affecting realms such as climate change and disaster risk reduction.
The conference ended on an inspiring and uplifting note, with brief remarks from former Executive Secretaries of the CTBTO Wolfgang Hoffman and Tibor Toth, and Keynote Remarks from Lord Des Browne and a closing speech from current Executive Secretary Dr. Lassina Zerbo. Both speakers focused on the need for science alongside politics, for engagement between disciplines, for involvement of youth in the CTBTO, and for maintaining hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds and chaotic international circumstances.
Applauding the presence of CBTO Youth Group members at the conference, Lord Browne remarked, “Youth are going to inherit a very complicated and difficult world.” His keynote address concluded by describing the optimism of youth and challenging attendees to set aside politics of despair in favor of politics of hope in their continued engagement with the CTBT.—BRENNA GAUTAM and SHERVIN TAHERAN
Further resources from Day 5:
VIDEO: Closing speech by Executive Secretary of the CTBTO Dr. Lassina Zerbo, June 30, 2017. (20 minutes)