Mission

The mission of CSWMD’s science and technology function is to explore the implications of advances in science and technology for applications having the potential for mass destruction, mass effect, or equivalently high impact to U.S. national security and defense.

 

Our Approach

The center’s two-part approach to S&T focuses on both analysis of emerging scientific and technological trends with high defense significance, and on how and whether existing governance models (including prevention, promotion, management, and response) can adequately address resulting security opportunities, concerns, and risks.

Our outcomes-based research tools include bibliometrics and other analyses, workshops, tabletops, and expert consultations to produce a variety of decision products and learning tools for use by policy makers and operators across DOD and the broader interagency.

 

Recent Publications

Orbis | July 8, 2024

Bolstering Biosecurity Amid the Biotechnology Revolution

Diane DiEuliis

The rapid pace of novel technological change, referred to as “emerging technologies,” is challenging our ability to devise policy and governance apace. This is particularly true in the life sciences and biotechnology, where the current tools used for promoting biosecurity via policy and governance are becoming outdated.

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Book cover.

Strategic Latency Unleashed: The Role of Technology in a Revisionist Global Order and the Implications for Special Operations Forces | Sept. 13, 2023

The Role of Special Operations Forces in Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction

Mr. Brendan Melley

With their global presence, reach, and capabilities, U.S. special operations forces (SOF) are critical for competing and winning in the WMD-infected security environment. Core SOF capabilities work to shape the operating environment in the current “steady state” landscape in a manner that serves to deter, dissuade, and frustrate adversaries from pursuing or acquiring WMD.

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Cover page for the 2023 Biodefense Posture Review.

Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction | Aug. 18, 2023

2023 Biodefense Posture Review

The Biodefense Posture Review was a whole of DOD effort to develop guidance to achieve National Defense Strategy priorities and address biological threats - especially those with strategic consequences for the U.S. military.

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Senior Airman Leidy Ruiz, 22nd Medical Support Squadron lab technician, inspects a blood sample through a microscope July 20, 2020, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. The lab has limited testing capabilities and outsources specific tests to properly-equipped medical facilities at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio and Wilford Hall at Lackland AFB, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexi Bosarge)

Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction | April 30, 2023

How Emerging Technologies Become Emerging Threats: Workshop Report

Identifying how emerging technologies contribute to, or constitute emerging threats can better prepare society to take the appropriate actions to mitigate risks and possibly lead to measures that ensure better governance. The participants of a workshop devoted to examining this question found that social, cultural, political, economic, and other factors contribute to how emerging technologies may become emerging threats. This paper summarizes these discussions and conclusions.

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CSIS TU

Tech Unmanned | Aug. 12, 2021

Biotech to the Future

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

Listen as CSWMD's Dr. Diane DiEuliis and Austin Walne, Partner at ARTIS Ventures, speak to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Tech Unmanned podcast about emerging biotechnologies. The views expressed in the podcast are those of the individual and not the organization.

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Research Team

Diane DiEuliis
Diane DiEuliis
Assistant Director and Distinguished Research Fellow
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CSWMD
Gerald Epstein
Distinguished Fellow
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