Event Description:
Nine experts will join the conference attendees to consider the many facets of this critical problem and how to reduce the nuclear threat to our planet.
The Doomsday clock stands at two minutes before midnight. This symbolic clock, maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, signifies the level of nuclear threat to humanity is. This is the closest that the clock has been to midnight since 1953 during the Cold War.
Today nine countries possess more than 14,000 nuclear weapons. The United States and Russia hold the vast majority of these weapons and keep some 1,800 ready to launch within minutes. Yet, the use of some 100 of these weapons against cities could lead to global cooling, affecting agricultural production and food supply.
Event Speakers:
The Conference will begin with two renowned keynote speakers via live streaming:
- Daniel Ellsberg - author of The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner
- Robert Jay Lifton - author of The Apocalyptic Twins: Nuclear and Climate Threats
Seven experts will be joining them to consider the many facets of this critical problem and how to reduce the nuclear threat to our planet.
- Zia Mian - physicist and co-director at Princeton’s Program on Science and Global Security, and co-author of “Unmaking the Bomb”
- Bruce Blair - research scholar at Princeton Program on Science and Global Security, Macarthur Fellow and U.S. Air Force intercontinental ballistic missile launch officer
- Kelsey Davenport - director of non-proliferation, Arms Control Association
- Lisbeth Gronlund - senior scientist and co-director, Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists
- Laura Grego - senior scientist and expert on weapons in space, Union of Concerned Scientists
- Ray Acheson - Nobel Peace Prize winner for creating the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons or ICAN
- Elaine Scarry - Harvard University, Cabot Professor of aesthetics and the general theory of value
Event Information:
Registration includes a continental breakfast, lunch, coffee/tea break and a booklet of position papers by the speakers. NJIT welcomes attendees from all area colleges and universities. Register at the event website. For more information, contact [email protected].
