Sara Kutchesfahani joins senior staff at CITS
Dr. Sara Z. Kutchesfahani comes to the Center from the Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), where she was the only social science research associate among a pool of 440 at the laboratory. At Los Alamos, her work focused on non-proliferation policy-related research projects, with an emphasis on international safeguards. From LANL, she also taught a graduate distance-learning education course, titled “Nuclear Safeguards & Security Policy,” at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, a premier science engineering research university.
CITS supports IAEA efforts to create self-assessment for nuclear security culture
Dr. Igor Khripunov presenting at the IAEA Technical Meeting in Vienna, Austria
On April 8-12, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted a technical meeting to discuss self-assessment methodologies for nuclear security culture in Vienna, Austria. The purpose of this meeting was to review the draft guidance first tested in Indonesia and to determine the ways in which the self-assessment methodology could be further improved, finalized and made available to member states.
As a proof of concept, CITS assisted the IAEA in implementing a pilot self-assessment project conducted in Indonesia at three operating research reactors in cooperation with BATAN, the Indonesian nuclear authority.
Kenya Project for chemical safety & security
Ambassador Jan-Lucas van Hoorn (The Netherlands), Professor William W. Keller (USA), Ambassador Makena Muchiri (Kenya) and Ambassador Jan Borkowski (Poland) discuss the Kenya Project.
In April 2013, CITS Director William W. Keller chaired a side event to the Third Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague. The goal was to introduce a unique project to support and build chemical safety and security in Kenya. The Kenya delegation embraced the idea of installing a legislative and regulatory system of strategic trade controls that will enable Kenyan authorities to monitor chemicals and other dual-use commodities that transit the Port of Mombasa or use the Port as a transshipment point.
UN General Assembly adopts Arms Trade Treaty
On April 2, 2013 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the new Arms Trade Treaty, concluding decades of hard work to establish a global norm for the international trade in conventional arms. This historic document requires states to establish a control system for the international transfers of this type of weapons. Countries like the United States and members of the European Union have mature systems already in force, but some other states have nothing in place at all. The ATT will change that by linking today’s fractured system into a true international safety net.
Anne-Charlotte Merrell Wetterwik, a CITS Senior Research Associate has, as a technical advisor, been able to follow the UN negotiations closely for the last four years and participated in the final week of the negotiating diplomatic conference in New York City. Ms. Merrell Wetterwik said on the day the ATT was adopted, “For years states have had the tools and obligations to keep trade in dual-use goods under control — today we can finally say the same about conventional weapons. Countries will benefit from a diminished risk of arms diverting to the illicit market and defense companies will navigate more consistent trade regulations. A level playing field for legitimate trade will make it easier to identify and deal with illicit arms dealers and illegitimate transactions that fuel wars and conflict.”
The third issue of the 1540 Compass was published March 25. It features a look at the Global Partnership’s 1540 role from Amb. Bonnie Jenkins, the United States representative to the GP, as well as an article by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on nuclear detection technologies, an overview of Mexico’s export control evolution, and much more.
The Compass is a journal of views, comments, and ideas for effective implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 to prevent WMD proliferation and terrorism by non-state actors. It is published by the Center for International Trade & Security, in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.
Michael Beck speaks at trade control meeting
Dr. Michael Beck spoke Febrary 13th at the National Council on International Trade Development (NCITD) monthly meeting on global strategic trade control trends. NCITD is an industry-supported nonprofit group in the United States that proposes regulatory changes to address problems hindering international trade.
Richard B. Russell Security Leadership Program
The Richard B. Russell Security Leadership Program (SLP) is a year-long fellowship focused on nonproliferation and national security. The first semester is spent in an intensive research-oriented course taught by CITS staff and guest lecturers from the policymaking and national security communities. In the second semester, students work on projects ranging from country assessments to international workshops and seminars for strategic trade control practitioners.
SLP participants have gone on to positions in the US government, the UN, the International Atomic Energy Agency, large high-technology manufacturers, trade-oriented consulting firms, & academic institutions.
Chemical Security & Safety Conference in Poland
CITS Director William W. Keller moderated a panel and spoke at the international conference on chemical safety and security, organized and sponsored by the European Union, the government of Poland, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and the city of Tarnow. The conference promoted a global chemical safety and security culture as well as international cooperation in the field.
Security culture self-assessments in Indonesia
During the week of October 15, 2012, CITS researchers conducted four briefings for officials of Indonesia’s National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) and three research reactor facilities in Serpong, Bandung and Yogyakarta. The purpose of the briefings was to introduce the recently-developed methodology to assess nuclear security culture. Self-assessments will be performed by BATAN’s specially-designated teams, with the preliminary results presented in a report in mid-2013. The methodology has been developed by a group of international experts, including CITS, under the IAEA auspices, and will be recommended, after review, to all member states possibly as early as 2013. For more information, contact Dr. Igor Khripunov.
China is a major focus for new international outreach efforts at CITS. As a massive industrial world power with significant interests in high technology trade, China must be addressed in any strategy for promoting global trade security. CITS places a high priority on promoting security culture in China, and pursues this goal with training workshops, research, corporate outreach, and a specially tailored variant of the Security & Strategic Trade Management Academy.
CITS researchers dedicated a significant portion of the past summer to work in China. Director William Keller, Executive Director Scott Jones, and several researchers made trips to Beijing and Shenzhen, hosting workshops based on the Security & Strategic Trade Management Academy for an audience of industry and government officials.
CITS Senior Fellow writes paper on customs and STC
Renaud Chatelus, a new senior fellow at CITS, has published a paper: “The Role of Customs in Strategic Trade Controls: Challenges and Potential.” The paper examines strategic trade controls from the perspective of states, which must provide the day-to-day enforcement necessary to make these controls effective. With most of the attention of the nonproliferation and global security community on international law and licensing, the paper adds a new dimension to the discussion.
Security & Strategic Trade Management Academy
The CITS Security & Strategic Trade Management Academy is a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of strategic trade control, designed with an international perspective for trade officials from around the world. Registration is now open for the spring 2013 session, taking place March 25 through April 5. The registration form (PDF) is available online. Once filled out, the form should be submitted to Christopher Tucker, the program coordinator.
INSEN’s Third Annual Meeting
The International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN) held its third annual meeting in Vienna, Austria, July 9-13, 2012. CITS researcher Dmitriy Nikonov participated after serving as the INSEN chair during the 2011-2012 academic year.
INSEN was formed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2010 to coordinate worldwide efforts to introduce university degree programs in nuclear security. INSEN members, hailing from over 20 countries, develop educational materials, create opportunities for faculty and student professional development, and promote nuclear security education.
To obtain more information, please contact the IAEA Office of Nuclear Security at nusec@iaea.org.
Russell Security Leadership (undergrad)
Applications take place in April for fall semester and November for spring semester. You must turn in:
- Application form (Fall 2012)
- Official transcript, cover letter and resumé
- Writing sample, from coursework on an international or political topic
Contact: Christopher Tucker
Int’l Security & Nonproliferation (master’s)
Applications are due June 15 for fall semester 2012. ISN is a concentration within the Master of International Policy degree, so be sure to apply to that program. Required materials:
- Fee: $75 for domestic students, $100 for international students
- Two official transcripts from each higher education institution attended (UGA transcripts will be on file)
- Official GRE general test score report
- Online application (with additional material for international students)
Contact: William W. Keller and Jeffrey Berejikian
CITS holds CBRN security seminar in Indonesia
In May 2012, CITS traveled to Jakarta, Indonesia and held a two-day seminar entitled “Chemical, Biological Radiological and Nuclear Security: Factoring in the Human Element.” The seminar was co-organized and hosted by the National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia (BATAN).
The seminar offered an in-depth look at security culture at Indonesia’s nuclear facilities and tools to improve that culture. It also trained government officials to improve CBRN security by building proactive security procedures, which reduce the risk of CBRN materials being diverted for malicious purposes.
The seminar was attended by more than 50 representatives of various government agencies dealing with CBRN security issues, including BATAN, the National Nuclear Regulatory Agency, CBRN Unit of the Indonesian Army, National Police, Customs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Intelligence Agency, and National Counterterrorism Agency.
Kenyan Delegation at CITS in DC
From April 30 through May 4, the Center for International Trade and Security hosted 10 delegates from the government of Kenya for a workshop on strategic trade controls in Washington, DC. The visitors met with U.S. government officials, industry representatives, and academic experts to learn about effective strategic trade control systems and the important strategic trade control issues they will consider as part of future legislation. The event was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program. The delegates represented a variety of Kenyan national government agencies and ministries, as well as the Africa Peace Forum.
Khripunov and Nikonov publish book for NATO
CITS researchers Igor Khripunov and Dmitriy Nikonov have collected the work of over 100 international experts from more than 20 countries for a new book in the NATO Science for Peace and Security series. New international approaches to strengthening nuclear security and preventing nuclear terrorism have been introduced since 2000. The adoption of new and revised international laws, initiatives, and voluntary mechanisms has led to improved security measures in this critical area, but there is still a need for stronger substantive and procedural arrangements. This book collects the presentations and deliberations of participants at the NATO Advanced Research Workshop held in Vienna, Austria in January 2010.The papers presented here summarize current understanding of, and approaches to, the legal framework for nuclear security and counterterrorism. The book will be of interest to all governments, international organizations, researchers and practitioners worldwide who are involved in securing nuclear materials and preventing nuclear terrorism.
Securing Dual-Use Technologies
Most of the items needed to produce weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are dual-use in nature; they have both a peaceful application as well as a military or WMD application. These items are becoming more widely available on international markets as a result of globalization. Companies that produce and export these sensitive items are a critical, but often overlooked, player in global efforts to curb proliferation. The Center is working to promote strengthened corporate security standards and to encourage corporations to exercise greater oversight over trade in strategic technologies. The Center is currently investigating the role of exporters in monitoring and screening end-users and fulfilling nonproliferation obligations. The Center is also engaged in educating strategic exporters in key countries about strategic trade control requirements and related issues (e.g., WCO SAFE). Much of the Center’s outreach is currently focused on working with exporters in China, India and other expanding Asian economies.
Project spotlight: CARICOM
Nonproliferation Security Culture
Threat awareness is the foundation of WMD security culture. Accordingly, CITS has worked with numerous international partners, primarily in Russia, to apprise the staffs at nuclear facilities of the security challenges confronting them and of the importance of nonproliferation. For instance, the Center has offered collaborative training programs with the Moscow Institute for Professional Training, an arm of the Russian Federal Agency for Atomic Energy, or Rosatom, since 1999.
Nuclear Security Research
Our research efforts explore how personnel management, motivation, and training affect the security of WMD-related materials and technologies. The CITS team recognizes that equipment is no better than its user, and thus that technical fixes alone cannot assure the security of nuclear facilities and materials. Personnel at these facilities must have not only the technical acumen they need to discharge their duties, but also attitudes and habits befitting the great responsibility entrusted to them. Creating and sustaining a healthy “security culture” is largely a function of leadership.
CITS has published a number of research reports on the human element of security. The reports define the concept of nuclear security culture in detail and offer a methodology for evaluating and improving the culture at individual nuclear installations.
In the fall of 2005, CITS organized and co-sponsored a NATO Advanced Research Workshop titled Nuclear Security Culture: From National Best Practices to International Standards in Moscow. The workshop brought together nearly 100 experts from the government, industry, and academic sectors in 35 countries to discuss the security challenges facing stewards of nuclear materials worldwide, and to develop a common understanding of nuclear security culture.
Chemical and Biological Security Research
CITS is forging ties with the University of Georgia biological and chemical research communities, for instance the University’s Biomedical & Health Sciences Institute, to begin examining security practices at laboratories and facilities that handle pathogens, chemicals, and other materials that could be used to produce chemical or biological weapons. This joint enterprise will extend the insights CITS has gleaned from studying nuclear security culture into new disciplines, further enhancing national and international security.
Science and Security Initiative
The world is witnessing exponential and unprecedented scientific growth in areas such as biochemistry, bioinformatics, genetics, nanotechnology, agronomy and agricultural engineering. Our society needs to be kept informed of technological developments that will impact our security. US policymakers need systematic and realistic assessments about the strategic implications of these scientific developments. Members of the academy can help.
The Center for International Trade and Security and the Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute have organized a Science and Security Initiative as part of the University of Georgia’s efforts to respond to bio-security and other science-related threats. The initiative involves faculty and students from the sciences, security and public policy fields. The initiative hosts special lectures and seminars and promotes interdisciplinary research. For more information about the initiative, contact Dr. Gary Bertsch, Director of the Center for International Trade and Security, or Dr. Harry Dailey, Director of the Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute.
CITS at the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit
CITS researchers headed to Seoul, South Korea in late March to distribute and discuss their publications at the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit. CITS will present the report from the February security culture workshop and a book, Legal Framework for Strengthening Nuclear Security and Combating Nuclear Terrorism, written for the NATO Peace and Security Series.
International Security and Nonproliferation
The ISN is a concentration within the Master of International Policy degree. The concentration in International Security and Nonproliferation combines social science methods and practice from the field to analyze issues of nuclear, chemical, biological and radiological weapons and their proliferation.
The ISN provides advanced training for students pursuing non-academic careers in international governmental and non-governmental organizations; in the diplomatic corps and foundations; in federal agencies such as the Departments of State and Energy and the intelligence community; and in foreign policy making, strategic trade, and other international policy fields.
- Taught jointly by International Affairs faculty and Ph.D.-level practitioners from CITS
- Students gain comprehensive knowledge of nonproliferation and disarmament law and practice
- Students obtain training in foreign policy fields including strategic trade, defense policy, international security policy, arms control, nuclear security culture, economic and political development
- The ISN prepares students for careers in the public and private sectors, both in the U.S. and abroad
For information about the ISN program or to apply, contact Prof. Jeffrey Berejikian or Prof. William W. Keller. You can also download a PDF brochure.
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