Skip to main content
Event

Global Forum on Scientific Advances Important to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention

Global Forum on Scientific Advances Important to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention

The Global Forum on Scientific Advances Important to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention addressed rapidly emerging advancements in biology and biotechnology and their impact on the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) and bioweapons nonproliferation policy. Following the outcome of the 8th BWC Review Conference in 2016, which failed to establish an intersessional program of work for 2017-2020, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security identified the need to support BWC states parties by injecting technical expertise into BWC proceedings.

The Global Forum facilitated engagement between scientists and policymakers, bringing cutting-edge biological scientists from around the world to Geneva in order to share their expertise directly with BWC delegations and other stakeholders. Additionally, exposure to the BWC and bioweapons nonproliferation efforts raised awareness of these issues among frontline scientists and built support for bioweapons nonproliferation efforts around the world. The Global Forum emphasized the importance of engaging the scientific community and private sector to support bioweapons nonproliferation norms, policies, and programs. These events served as a platform for direct engagement between policy and technical experts to understand how emerging and future biotechnology tools and approaches might drive new risks and benefits in the context of the BWC and to explore new solutions for existing and emerging biological weapons challenges.

The Global Forum was held in conjunction with the 2018 and 2019 BWC Meetings of States Parties (MSPs) and were attended by representatives from BWC delegations, UN officials, and other international policy and technical experts. The 2019 Global Forum event was co-hosted with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs. The events consisted of panel and speaker discussions on current and future biological capabilities relevant to the BWC, including the potential for misuse and opportunities to bolster the BWC and bioweapons nonproliferation norms.

The agendas for each meeting, including presentations and statements delivered by panelists and speakers, can be found below. Additional details regarding the presentations, themes, and discussions are available in the meeting reports.

Contact
Those who have questions or need more information may email Dr. Gigi Gronvall, senior scholar at the Center, at ggronvall@jhu.edu.
 

2019 Global Forum

2018 Global Forum

 

2019 Global Forum

Geneva, Switzerland
Palais des Nations, Room XXIII
December 2, 2019

Held in Conjunction with the 2019 Meeting of State Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention

 

Download the 2019 Meeting Report

 

2019 Agenda & Presentations

Monday, December 2, 2019
Palais des Nations, Room XXIII

0900 Registration & Breakfast
0930 Welcome & Introduction
  • Gigi GRONVALL, PhD, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, United States of America
  • Anja KASPERSEN, Director, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
  • His Excellency Ambassador Yann HWANG, Permanent Representative of France to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva and Chair of the 2019 Meeting of the States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
0945 Session #1: Gene Drives and Engineered Ecology: What can we expect from these advancing capabilities and what are their implications for the BWC?

Moderator:
  • Michael MONTAGUE, PhD, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, United States of America
Panelists:
1115 Coffee/Tea Break
1130 Session #2: Advancing Agriculture and Animal Science: What is the current state of capabilities, and what are the impacts on the BWC?

Moderator:
  • Gigi GRONVALL, PhD, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, United States of America
Panelists:
1300 Lunch
1400

Keynote Address: Alessandro MARCELLO, PhD, Group Leader, Molecular Virology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

1445 Coffee/Tea Break
1500 Session #3: Barriers and Opportunities: What policies for cutting-edge biology could strengthen the BWC?

Moderator:
  • Nancy CONNELL, PhD, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, United States of America
Panelists:
1630 Closing Remarks
  • Gigi GRONVALL, PhD, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, United States of America
1645 Closing Reception, Location: Area 26 (adjacent to Room XXVI)
1745 Adjourn

 


2018 Global Forum

Geneva, Switzerland
Palais des Nations, Room XXIV
December 3, 2018

Held in Conjunction with the 2018 Meeting of State Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention

 

Download the 2018 Meeting Report

 

2018 Photos

View and download photos from the event. Photos are in a Flickr gallery but can be made available outside of Flickr if necessary.

 

2018 Agenda

Monday, December 3, 2018

Palais des Nations, Room XXIV

0900 Check-in & Catered Breakfast
0930 Welcome Remarks
His Excellency Ambassador Ljupco Gjorgjinski, Chargé d’Affaires of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Chairman of the 2018 Meeting of the States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention with introduction by Gigi Gronvall, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
0945 Session #1:
The Cutting Edge of Biology: What is the Current State of Capabilities and What are the Impacts on the BWC?

Moderator:
  • Gigi Gronvall, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Panelists:
1100 Coffee/Tea Break
1130 Session #2:
What are the current and historical approaches to addressing advancements in science & technology and their impact on the BWC?

Moderator:
  • Anita Cicero, Deputy Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Panelists:
1230 Catered Lunch
1330 Keynote Address
Jason Matheny, Former Director, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), Office of the Director of National Intelligence, United States of America
1440 Session #3:
Looking to the Future: What capabilities can we expect of advanced biology that could play a positive or negative role in the BWC and bioweapons nonproliferation norms?

Moderator:
  • Nancy Connell, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Panelists:
1540 Coffee/Tea Break
1610 Session #4:
How to Leverage Science and Technology to Strengthen the BWC?

Moderator:
  • Zalini Yunus, Science & Technology Research Institute for Defence, Ministry of Defence, Malaysia
Panelists:
1725 Closing Remarks on Importance of Continued Dialogue
Gigi Gronvall, Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
1730 Closing Reception