Disarmament in Review
The deliberate inclusion and meaningful participation of young scientists is essential to strengthen frameworks that safeguard biosecurity matters. In this context, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Geneva Branch brought together 20 young scientists under the Youth for Biosecurity Initiative.
The call for applications to the third edition of the Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship received over 2,400 applications from 115 countries. Selected participants began their journeys with a series of five substantive webinars from 16 June to 23 July 2025. Each webinar explored a topic under discussion by the Working Group on the Strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention, aiming to prepare the group before their attendance at its Sixth Session in August. The topics included an introduction into the BWC, National Implementation, Science Diplomacy and Governance Challenges under the Biological Weapons Convention, safeguarding bioscience and biotechnology against misuse and Compliance and Verification.
Mr. Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, encouraged them to bring fresh thinking to the important conversations shaping the future of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in congratulatory remarks delivered in the opening webinar. He called on the Fellows to act as force multipliers by sharing the knowledge within their networks and professional spheres in their home countries and beyond.
From 11 to 15 August 2025, the in-person segment of the Fellowship Programme took place in Geneva. In an official side-event, the Fellows presented their scientific posters that provide ideas and initiatives to foster biosecurity at the national, regional and international level. The posters were voted upon in a week-long poster competition, including an expert judging panel and public vote.
The Youth for Biosecurity Fellows presented their posters at the launch event for the Poster Competition on Monday 11 August 2025. Briefings were held with a variety of stakeholders, including representatives from the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), and the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA). The Fellows also shared their perspectives and ideas with Ms. Mélanie Régimbal, Chief of UNODA’s Geneva Branch, exchanging their priorities for youth engagement in disarmament. A guided tour of the United Nations provided context on the UN system and the wider disarmament machinery before the cohort attended the formal meeting of the Biological Weapons Convention.
In small teams, the Fellows explored concepts related to communication and design thinking through an interactive workshop conducted by the Global Health Security Fund. Besides engaging with key stakeholders in Geneva, the Fellows also had the opportunity to visit the Spiez Laboratory, the Swiss Federal Institute for NBC-Protection, where they learned more about the Laboratory’s work.
A session was also held with Filippa Lentzos, BWC NGO coordinator, and two alumni members, Peter Babigumira Ahabwe and Danilo Granda, to facilitate peer-to-peer engagement on ways to remain involved within the biosecurity field after the programme and other career guidance.
Overall, the Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship provided a unique opportunity to cultivate fresh thinking on ways to safeguard the BWC, highlight the relevance of the Convention among Youth as well as to forge strong partnerships between the Fellows and across the Global South.
The 2025 Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship Programme was made possible with the financial support from the European Union, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Global Health Security Fund. In-kind contributions to the Programme were made by Switzerland.
