As advances in science and technology increasingly shape global security, scientists are playing a growing role in helping policymakers understand emerging risks and opportunities. To strengthen that connection, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) brought together 25 chemists and biologists - representing academia, government, and research institutions in 24 countries - for the first OPCW-UNODA joint workshop on policy and diplomacy for scientists.
The workshop, organised with financial support from the governments on Norway and Armenia, took place from 26 to 29 May 2026 at the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre). The event set out to close the gap between scientists and policymakers and to promote the ethical and responsible use of scientific knowledge. As science and technology advance at an unprecedented pace, the demand for scientists who understand and can help shape policy, on both national and international levels, has never been greater. Policymakers need expert guidance on how technology is evolving, what risks are emerging, and which governance responses actually work.
Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, addressed that gap in a video message at the opening of the workshop. Policymakers, she said, rely on scientists not only to conduct research but to translate its implications for those making decisions. "Your role in disarmament is not secondary," she told participants. "It is central."
H.E. Erling Rimestad, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Norway to the OPCW, also recognized the gap between science and policy. "Too often, dual-use technologies are developed without full awareness of the policy frameworks. And too often, policymakers and diplomats work on verification and compliance without always fully comprehending the technical nuances of synthetic biology or chemical synthesis," he highlighted.
"By building a shared understanding of risks and best practices-at national, regional, and international levels-we can ensure that scientific advances are used only for peaceful purposes, including in verification and compliance," he added.
Why the two Conventions matter
Science and technology underpin both the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which share roots in the 1925 Geneva Protocol. Under the general obligations of both treaties, advances in science must serve exclusively for peaceful purposes. Given the overlap between the two Conventions - particularly on toxins - and the growing convergence of the chemical and biological sciences, a coordinated multidisciplinary approach is needed to promote cooperation and the exchange of best practices on both national and international levels.
Ethics at the core
Particular attention was given to the ethical responsibilities of scientists, drawing on the Hague Ethical Guidelines for the chemical sciences and the Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for bioscience practitioners.
Developed with OPCW support, the Hague Ethical Guidelines promote responsible conduct that keeps chemistry peaceful and helps prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons; the Tianjin Guidelines set out ten principles to strengthen biosecurity governance at the national and institutional levels. For participants returning to research, academia and industry, such frameworks turn multilateral commitments into everyday professional tools - because long-term prevention depends as much on a culture of responsibility as on legal rules.
Alastair Hay, Professor Emeritus at the University of Leeds, who led sessions on the history of the CWC, ethics and a tabletop exercise on alleged chemical weapons use, reflected: "The CWC represents one of the most successful disarmament agreements in history precisely because it brought the scientific community into the conversation from the outset. That conversation has never been more important than it is today."
James Revill, Head of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and Space Security Programmes at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), who led sessions on the BWC, underscored the urgency: "As science advances and converges across disciplines against a backdrop of significant geopolitical tension, actively engaging the scientific community is essential. Strengthening scientists'connection to the BWC will help future-proof this vital agreement."
Alexis Edelstein, Director of Argentina's Biological Containment Operations Unit, a participant in the workshop said: "What struck me most was the workshop's practical approach to provide providing concrete tools for learning how to transform our technical knowledge into clear and persuasive recommendations for public policy formulation […] Often, those of us who work on highly complex technical infrastructures are disconnected from the forums where global regulations are defined."
As emerging technologies continue to transform both chemistry and biology, strengthening the connection between scientific expertise and international policymaking will become increasingly important. By bringing scientists into conversations traditionally led by diplomats and policymakers, the OPCW and UNODA are helping ensure that advances in science continue to serve peace, security and sustainable development. This first joint workshop sets a model for future capacity-building - one that reflects the increasingly intertwined nature of chemical and biological risks, and the shared frameworks built to govern them.
"The knowledge and skills acquired during the workshop will significantly contribute to my professional development as an academic and researcher. As a faculty member of a military-regulated university, I intend to incorporate the principles of responsible science, ethics, and science diplomacy into both my teaching and research activities, engaging civil and military officer students alike," said Tamanna Ishrat Farhana, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry at the Military Institute of Science and Technology in Bangladesh who participated in the workshop.
"The discussions on emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and their implications for chemical and biological security, have strengthened my understanding of the evolving non-proliferation landscape," she added.
Background
Since 2016, the Workshop on Policy and Diplomacy for Scientists has been an important capacity building initiative delivered by the OPCW Technical Secretariat, supporting young scientists in understanding the policy and diplomatic dimensions of their work. Since its launch, the workshop has served as a valuable platform for scientists to engage with policymakers and to promote the responsible and sustainable use of science.
As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention's entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
In 2023, the OPCW verified that all chemical weapons stockpiles declared by the 193 States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention since 1997 - totalling 72,304 metric tonnes of chemical agents - have been irreversibly destroyed under the OPCW's strict verification regime.
For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.
