Landau Network - Centro Volta - WorkshopsAndEvents

Biosecurity, Biosafety and Dual-Use Risks: Trends, Challenges and Innovative Solutions

Science And Technology For Non-Proliferation Program | Workshops and Events

Biological Workshop and Round Table

Biosecurity, Biosafety and Dual-Use Risks: Trends, Challenges and Innovative Solutions

November 13th - 14th, 2009

Villa del Grumello

Como, Italy

Organized by

International Working Group - Landau Network-Centro Volta (IWG-LNCV), Como, Italy

In cooperation with

Bradford Disarmament Research Centre (BDRC), University of Bradford, UK

With the support of

Prevention of and Fight against Crime Programme
European Commission - Directorate-General Justice, Freedom and Security
US Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF)

International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC)

Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Lombardy Region, Italy

And under the patronage of

National Research Council (NRC), Italy

The IWG-LNCV Biological Workshop and Round Table on “Biosecurity, Biosafety and Dual-Use Risks: Trends, Challenges and Innovative Solutions” was held in two and half working days on 13 and 14 November 2009 in Como, at the Villa del Grumello on Lake Como shores. It was organized following the tradition of annual Workshops on Biosecurity and Biosafety of IWG-LNCV.

The 2009 meetings brought together a group of high level representatives from different backgrounds and converging on the discussion on issues of biosecurity, biosafety and dual use risks. National and international governmental organizations were represented; scientists, researchers and administrators from leading centers of excellence on research and laboratory containment worldwide also participated; academia and scientific universities were also represented with participants including professors of life sciences, course coordinators but also bioethicists and experts of international and penal law; finally, experts on policy making and from the “security community” participated, particularly on scientific and non-scientific aspects of safety, security and prevention.

The main aims of the Workshop and Round Table have been:

· To present institutional initiatives to strengthen Biosafety and Biosecurity Frameworks and regimes internationally;

· To present and discuss potential measures to facilitate and ensure the spread and the developing of life science and biotechnology around the world, guaranteeing at the same time safety and security;

· To present various experiences and to discuss the issue of education and awareness raising initiatives for scientists, especially the “new generations”, that are recognized to be essential part of the prevention process in a highly dual use field such as the life sciences;

· To present the activities of research and prevention institutes located in several areas of the world and the potentialities of networking that could facilitate research development and cooperation, and spread safety and security best practice;

· To engage in a discussion on how improve links and cooperation among institutional organizations, industry, professional associations, academic community, and enhance the various parts of the “web of prevention”, including legal frameworks, oversight, education, disease preparedness; and also the move towards new partnerships, public/private and science/security, to promote science development while responding to Biosafety and Biosecurity concerns.

Agenda Bio 2009.pdf (136,92 KB)
List of Participants Bio 2009.pdf (113,51 KB)

Side Event to the Meeting of State Parties of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
International Cooperation, Biosecurity and the Education of Life Scientists
US National Academies of Science & University of Bradford & National Defense Medical College & Landau Network - Centro Volta

Tuesday, December 01, 2009 1:39:27 PM (W. Europe Standard Time, UTC+01:00)

Sustainable Scientists Engagement Worldwide: Opportunities to Prevent Proliferation by Enhancing Best Practice and Professional Responsibility

Science And Technology For Non-Proliferation Program | Workshops and Events

Sustainable Scientists Engagement Worldwide

Opportunities to Prevent Proliferation by Enhancing Best Practice and Professional Responsibility

October 26th 2009

Società Italiana per l’Organizzazione Internazionale (SIOI)

Palazzetto di Venezia

Piazza di San Marco, 51

Rome, Italy

Organized by

International Working Group - Landau Network Centro Volta (IWG – LNCV), Como, Italy

In collaboration with

G8GP Working Group, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rome, Italy

With the support of

Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rome, Italy

Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF), Washington DC, US

Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), London, UK

International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC), Moscow, Russia

The proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) expertise, or any sensitive knowledge in the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) areas, remains a serious concern. Preventing the illicit use of such knowledge is one of the most difficult non-proliferation challenges to address, as we are dealing with scientists, engineers and technicians who, in some cases (those doing biological research, for instance), may not consider their expertise and current activities as potentially vulnerable to misuse by others for whom their “proliferation-critical” knowledge could represent a route to developing a WMD capability. They should be made aware that their legitimate work could have dual-use applications and be diverted for malicious purposes.

The human dimension of the proliferation equation should be incorporated as part of the global strategy to address the demand side of the proliferation equation and should be considered not only the lynchpin of the efforts to better address proliferation challenges, but an opportunity to achieve a whole host of foreign policy objectives and other vital interests of the world community.

In this respect, in the framework of the Italian presidency of the Global Partnership against the Proliferation of WMD, a set of Recommendations for a coordinated approach in the field of Global WMD Knowledge proliferation and scientists engagement have been developed by the Italian Presidency Global Partnership Team, in consultation with relevant experts and discussed and welcome by the G8 partners

The objective of the workshop is to analyse the effective and sustainable scientists engagement programs and initiatives worldwide to prevent that their knowledge, in legitimate scientific disciplines, be diverted for unintended illicit purposes. The workshop aims at :

Illustrating the Recommendations for a coordinated approach in the field of Global WMD Knowledge proliferation and scientists engagement cited above;
Examining the multilateral efforts and initiatives for assuring safe and secure spread of CBRN technologies knowledge;
Examining the strategies and opportunities of global and regional security engagement programs;
Presenting academic and recipient countries perspectives;
Identifying gaps and vulnerabilities, which may assist participants to establish or improve their current frameworks and objectives.

Agenda final.pdf (262,48 KB)

Participant_List final.pdf (228,67 KB)

Monday, October 26, 2009 3:24:44 PM (W. Europe Standard Time, UTC+01:00)

The Iranian Nuclear Issue. Technical assessment and ideas for a selective engagement

Workshops and Events

Round Table on The Iranian Nuclear Issue. Technical assessment and ideas for a selective engagement

19th June 2009

Arthur Schlesinger Jr. Boardroom

The Century Foundation

New York City, New York (U.S.)

Organized by

Landau Network-Centro Volta (LNCV), Como, Italy

In collaboration with

The Century Foundation, New York, US

With the support of

Policy Planning Unit (PPU), Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)

and under the auspices of

Permanent Mission of Italy at the United Nations, New York, US

Agenda

10.30 am – 11.00 am Welcome and introductions

(by: Jeffrey Laurenti, Senior Fellow and Director of Foreign Policy Programs, The Century Foundation; Giulio Terzi, Italian Representative to the UN; Pasquale Ferrara, Head of PPU-Italian MFA; Maurizio Martellini, Secretary General of LNCV).

11.00 am – 1.30 pm Session I

The nuclear program of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Status, open questions, technical aspects and possible technical solutions. Round Table interaction. Chairperson: Maurizio Martellini (interventions by: Mark Fitzpatrick; Harold Feiveson and R. Scott Kemp; Henry Sokolski; James Walsh)

2.15pm – 4.00 pm Session II

Non-nuclear issues and proposals. The “lift-for-freezing” concept and other selective engagement approaches. Round Table interaction.Chairperson: Riccardo Redaelli. (interventions, in alphabetic order, by: Samuel Gardiner; Cliff Kupchan; William H. Luers; Trita Parsi)

4.00 pm – 4.30 pm Chairmen conclusions

(by: Jeffrey Laurenti, Maurizio Martellini and Riccardo Redaelli)

Friday, June 19, 2009 11:47:20 AM (W. Europe Standard Time, UTC+01:00)

North Africa in a Translatantic Context: Policy Convergence in Turbolent Times?

Middle East Program | Workshops and Events

North Africa in a Transatlantic Context: Policy Convergence in Turbulent Times?
Villa Olmo, Como, 15 dicembre 2008

Organised by

Landau Network – Centro Volta and Chatham House
With the support of

Unità di Analisi e Programmazione - Ministero degli Affari Esteri

German Marshall Found

British Academy

The Workshop represented an opportunity for high qualified experts to debate on EU and Northern African regional policies. In particular arguments of discussion were the transatlantic visions according to different security and stabilization policies towards Mediterranean coasts.

During the first session the issue of security played a leading role, especially in terms of local conflicts in Northern Africa, migration flows, possible terrorist threats and their consequent effects on Mediterranean Countries.

The second session focused on the impact that current financial crisis may have in terms of reforms, privatizations and foreign direct investments in Mediterranean countries.

The third main topic discussed was security from a political point of view. It was underlined that elements such as good governance, democracy and security have different priorities according to the country they refer to and that security often prevail on the other elements. Internal reform movements play a leading role as well as the civil society development.

Future EU and US policies in the Mediterranean were analysed in the last session in order to better understand possible convergences and synergies among the Mediterranean countries, which have to work together on common policies, challenges and problems, without waiting for external support.

The workshop, in this sense, was particularly important as significant moment and step towards the reinforcement of the inter-Mediterranean dialogue.

LNCV - Chatham House Agenda.pdf (138,23 KB)
LNCV- Chatham House Participants list.pdf (5,75 KB)

Monday, December 15, 2008 1:39:15 PM (W. Europe Standard Time, UTC+01:00)

International Panel on Biosecurity Education

European Nuclear Cities Initiatives & International Working Group | Science And Technology For Non-Proliferation Program | Workshops and Events

International Panel on Biosecurity Education
Room XXII, Palais des Nations
Geneva, Switzerland
December 3rd, 2008

Organized by
International Working Group - Landau Network Centro Volta (Italy)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (US)
University of Bradford (UK)

Chair’s Introduction
Prof. Maurizio Martellini (LNCV, Italy)

Project on Biosecurity Education in Europe, Landau Network-Centro Volta/Bradford Disarmament Research Centre
Giulio Mancini (LNCV, Italy) & James Revill (BDRC, UK)

Professional and Graduate-Level Programs on Dual Use Research and Biosecurity in the U.S., American Association for the Advancement of Science
Jennifer Sta.Ana (AAAS, US)

Developing Biosecurity Education Materials, Bradford Disarmament Research Centre
Dr Simon Whitby (BDRC, UK)

Question and Answer Session

Report International Panel on Biosecurity Education Geneva ENG.pdf (516,05 KB)

Wednesday, December 03, 2008 1:01:14 PM (W. Europe Standard Time, UTC+01:00)

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