CONFERENCE PAPERS
Petr Pavelicek/IAEA
July 17, 2008
"The Security of Medical and Industrial Radioactive Sources"
By Tom Bielefeld, Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom and Helmut W. Fischer
Recent foiled and successful terrorist plots in Europe and the US (including two cases in the UK and Germany which included plans to design radiological dispersal devices in 2004 and 2005), clearly demonstrate that domestic or locally acting terrorist cells have become an important part of the terrorist threat picture. The uncovered “dirty bomb” – plots involved radioactive material of type or quantity that would not have caused much damage. Still, these observations underscore the necessity to revisit the issue of radioactive sources security in countries which may become the target of a radiological attack. This includes in particular countries in Europe, many of which in the past relied on sophisticated — but safety centred — regulations and functioning oversight institutions.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
July 2008
"Expanded and Accelerated HEU Downblending: Designing Options to Serve the Interests of All Parties"
By Matthew Bunn, Associate Professor of Public Policy; Co-Principal Investigator, Project on Managing the Atom
Accelerating and expanding the downblending of highly enriched uranium (HEU) beyond the current 500-ton U.S.-Russian HEU Purchase Agreement would have significant security benefits. Russia will still have large quantities of HEU not needed for military purposes after 500 tons of HEU has been blended to low-enriched uranium (LEU). But no agreement to expand and accelerate the downblending of Russian or U.S. excess HEU will succeed unless it is structured in a way that serves the interests of all sides. Russia has made clear that it has no interest in extending the HEU Purchase Agreement on its current terms. This paper outlines key Russian, U.S., and industry interests relating to expanded and accelerated HEU downblending.
People's Daily
April 2008
"Information Galaxy: Intelligence Study on Security and Defense—Case on Potential Terrorism at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games"
By Shacheng Wang, Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 2007-2008 and Feng Cao
The summer 2008 Olympic Games will take place in Beijing, China on August 8–24. In general, the security situation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is quite stable, but still we need to face up to the threats from both traditional and non-traditional security areas such as terrorism, separatism and extremism. Terrorism is the biggest threat to the games. Effective security and defense strategies for the games require reliable intelligence. Reliable intelligence, however, is notoriously difficult to obtain even though we are immersed in vast quantities of information. How can we identify and obtain the useful intelligence from the vast sea of other less useful information? After analyzing the potential terrorism attacks and terrorists in the games, the paper analyzes the potential means for counterterrorism at the games, and tries to set up an intelligence study system based on the IG (Information Galaxy), which includes five parts: Sun (S), Earth (E), Moon (M), ISE (Information Sharing Environment) and IG (Information Galaxy).
November 20, 2007
"Developing Better Policies for the Sustainable Development of the Indian Coal Sector"
By Ananth Chikkatur, Research Associate, Energy Technology Innovation Policy and Ambuj Sagar, Former Research Fellow, Energy Technology Innovation Policy Research Group, 1996-2002; Former Senior Research Associate, Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, 2007-2008
Coal accounts for about 70% of total electricity generation in India and is likely to remain a key energy source for at least the next 30-40 years. An increase in India's use of coal resources for its energy supply must occur through environmentally and socially sustainable development of this sector.
Swaroop C H
November 5, 2007
"India's Foreign Policy"
By Xenia Dormandy, Senior Associate, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"While local politics in India mandate an internal focus, recent Indian administrations have understood that it will require engagement with the international community to achieve their domestic objectives. In words, India still focuses inwardly: in actions, however, India is beginning to feel its way outside its borders. In recent years, India’s military, diplomatic and economic energies have expanded far beyond Nehru’s Non-Aligned position. But what does that mean for India, its region, and to the United States?"
July 2007
"Reducing Nuclear and Radiological Terrorism Threats"
By Matthew Bunn, Associate Professor of Public Policy; Co-Principal Investigator, Project on Managing the Atom and Tom Bielefeld, Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom
Urgent actions are needed to prevent a nuclear or radiological 9/11. Terrorists are actively seeking nuclear weapons and Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDDs) and the materials to make them. There are scores of sites where the essential ingredients of nuclear weapons exist, in dozens of countries worldwide. There are thousands of sites worldwide where radiological materials exist. Many of these sites are not sufficiently secured to defeat the kinds of threats that terrorists and criminals have demonstrated they can pose. A dangerous gap remains between the urgency of the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism and the scope and pace of the U.S. and world response. While the gap has narrowed significantly in recent years, much more needs to be done. This paper describes the nuclear and radiological terrorism threats, analyzes the actions taken so far to address these threats, and recommends further actions going forward.
January 29, 2007
The New Culture of Innovation: Africa in the Age of Technological Opportunities
By Calestous Juma, Professor of the Practice of International Development; Director, Science, Technology, and Globalization Project
October 16, 2006
China's Rise in American Military Strategy
By Dr. Ashton B. Carter, Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Harvard & Stanford Universities and Dr. William J. Perry, Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project
Carter and Perry call for a two-pronged strategy towards China: one prong of engagement to encourage China to be a "responsible stakeholder" and another prong of hedging against the prospect of a downturn in relations.
August 31, 2006
Labor Market Regulation and European Venture Capital Investment
By Ant Bozkaya, Research Fellow, International Security Program/Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program
July 16, 2006
Assessing the Benefits, Costs, and Risks of Near-Term Reprocessing and Alternatives
By Matthew Bunn, Associate Professor of Public Policy; Co-Principal Investigator, Project on Managing the Atom
