International conference on nuclear disarmament

We posed some questions to Lisa Hultman, the new director of the Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament (AMC), organiser of “AMC Cross-Disciplinary Conference 2025”.

AMC is interdisciplinary and works to promote nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control from many different perspectives. What issues will be addressed at the conference?

“We are trying to include as many different aspects as possible. For example, from a technical perspective, we have sessions on nuclear archaeology and technical verification. From a more social science perspective, we have sessions on how to negotiate disarmament, the status of disarmament treaties and nuclear arsenals, justice issues and gender perspectives. For the first time ever, we also have sessions entirely focused on regulating nuclear weapons in space and on the impact of AI on nuclear weapons and disarmament.”

The subject is very topical. Who is your target audience?

“It is an academic conference where the latest research on nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control is presented and discussed. Participants are therefore mainly academics from all over the world, but we also aim to reach policy makers, officials from relevant government agencies, civil society organisations, students and the general public. The conference is multi-disciplinary, so we welcome nuclear physicists, peace researchers and everything in between.”

Izumi Nakamitsu, who has a senior role at the UN, is a keynote speaker representing disarmament issues. What will she be speaking about?

“She will speak on the conference theme “Paths to Disarmament in Times of Nuclear Threat”, particularly in light of the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It will be fascinating to hear her ideas on possible paths to disarmament today.”

On 1 June, you will take up your position as the new director of the Alva Myrdal Centre. Is there anything in particular you want to promote?

“First and foremost, I want to continue to support the incredibly exciting research environment that AMC has built up in recent years. It is a matter of giving the working groups the right conditions for conducting research in their respective fields, as well as creating space for fruitful interdisciplinary dialogue between the groups.

I also want to help make this research and knowledge more visible. AMC has an important mission to serve society by providing knowledge on nuclear disarmament issues and to provide policy support to decision-makers.”

What is your role at the Alva Myrdal Centre, now that the debate on nuclear weapons is so polarised?

“When AMC was established, nuclear weapons were not a major issue on the political agenda. Since then, a lot has happened in the world and nuclear weapons are back in focus. But nuclear disarmament and arms control are complex issues – both politically and technically. Here, AMC has a central role to play in democratising the debate by providing a knowledge base. The education we offer can also help to create broader expertise on these issues.”

Annica Hulth