RWTHextern Lecture Series on Chemical Weapons

Even though chemical weapons have been banned internationally since 1997, they are used again and again. In light of this fact, the RWTHextern Citizen’s Forum is hosting a lecture series on the topic of “Chemical Weapons – a Very Current and Necessary Topic of Debate.” Speakers will explain the threat posed by chemical weapons, how they can be detected, and what role politics play. The series concludes with a panel discussion on research affecting national security. Please note that the talks will be in German unless noted otherwise.

 

Kicking off the lecture series with his talk “Chemiewaffen – geächtet, aber immer noch eine Bedrohung” on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Dr. Ralf Trapp will highlight why chemical weapons are still a threat even though they are outlawed. Trapp is a consultant on disarmament issues and previously worked at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Other dates:
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Professor Harald John, from the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the German Armed Forces, will talk about the trail left by chemical warfare agents and methods for the forensic detection of poisoning in his talk “Die Spur chemischer Kampfstoffe: Methoden für den forensischen Nachweis einer Vergiftung. “

Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Dr. Angela Kane, former United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, will explore the role diplomacy plays in the investigation of chemical weapons use in her lecture entitled “Die Rolle der Diplomatie bei der Untersuchung von Chemiewaffeneinsätzen “

Wednesday, July 12, 2023
The panel discussion “Chemiewaffenverbot – Was sollte in Forschung und Lehre geschehen? “will focus on the official chemical weapons ban and consider what should happen in research and education.
Panel:
- Dr. Una Jakob, from the Hessian Foundation for Peace and Conflict Research.
- Professor Saskia Nagel, from the RWTH Applied Ethics Teaching and Research Area
- Dr. Hans-Georg Weinig, from the German Chemical Society
Moderated by: Professor Malte Göttsche, Junior Professor for Nuclear Verification and Disarmament, RWTH Experimental Physics Department

All events are scheduled to begin at 6pm in lecture hall H06 at the C.A.R.L. lecture hall complex, Claßenstraße 11, Aachen. Admission is free of charge; registration is not required.