Physicists Against the Bomb

In a recent forum, two physicists introduced us to their new organization: the “Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction – https://physicistscoalition.org/ A UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PHYSICISTS Stewart Prager, a physicist at Princeton and one of the founders of the coalition, emphasized the unique position of physicists in the nuclear debate.

“Physicists played a role in inventing nuclear weapons, and we continue to be involved in their development and maintenance. It’s our responsibility to speak up and advocate for nuclear threat reduction,” Prager explained. He noted that the coalition was established with the support of the American Physical Society, giving it a strong foundation within the scientific community. The coalition aims to educate physicists about the current dangers of nu clear weapons, which have increased in recent years, and to turn them into advocates for reducing these threats. By leveraging the credibility and expertise of physicists, Prager believes their voices could carry more weight in political and public discussions.

EXPANDING AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY

The coalition’s efforts have primarily been within the United States, reaching out to physics departments across the country to raise awareness. According to Prager, they have recruited around 1,500 physicists so far, but the goal is not simply to increase membership.

We want advocates, not just people on a mailing list. When physicists speak out on these issues, it can influence policymakers more effectively than people in other professions,” he noted. The coalition also seeks to engage early-career scientists, offering fellow ships to encourage younger physicists to get involved in advocacy. Roohi Da lal, a recent PhD graduate in astronomy who is now working on space security issues, had been one of these fellows at Princeton.

CHALLENGES AND ETHICAL QUESTIONS Probably the major challenge the coalition faces is the reluctance of many physicists to engage with these issues. Prager acknowledged that a significant portion of physicists are focused solely on their research and have little time or inclination to get involved in political advocacy. However, Dalal was more upbeat about her own generation of scientists. She insisted that there is growing interest among younger scientists in exploring the ethical implications of working on projects related to nuclear weapons or other military technologies. The coalition is addressing the ethics of physicists working on nuclear weapons programs. “We want to catalyze a discussion in the physics community about the ethics of this work,” Prager said, noting that many physicists in national laboratories are involved in research funded by nuclear weapons programs, often without considering the broader consequences of their work.

LOOKING FORWARD:

EXPANDING INTERNATIONALLY

While the coalition’s focus has been primarily within the United States, Prager and Dalal are looking to expand its reach internationally. This effort is complicated by the fact that discussions about nuclear weapons are highly restricted in many countries, including Russia and China. However, the coalition has already made some inroads, holding a workshop in Italy last year with participants from 20 nations. The next steps involve reaching out to physicists in countries like Canada, where they see a more open opportunity to build collaborations. For example, a member of the coalition will address the Canadian Pugwash Group at its annual meeting in October.

CONCLUSION The Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction is still in its early stages, but it represents an important movement within the scientific community. See its website: https://physicists coalition.org/. By educating and mobilizing physicists, the coalition aims to bring a powerful voice to the public dis course on nuclear weapons. As Prager aptly stated, “We need to think big, and if we can unify the physics community, we can make a transformative change in the global effort to reduce nuclear threats.”