UNIDIR, in collaboration with the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit (BWC-ISU) at the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), is organizing a series of online technical briefs on emerging technologies and the BWC.
The upcoming session will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) enabled tools for molecular design and biological engineering – areas advancing at a rapid pace. It will examine their current capabilities, potential dual-use risks, evolving international policy responses, and implications for strengthening the BWC. The session will include a conversation-style expert panel, followed by an interactive question-and-answer segment with the audience.
Speakers
- Dr Cassidy Nelson, Director of Biosecurity Policy, the Centre for Long-Term Resilience
- Dr Sana Zakaria, Senior Research Leader for Science and Emerging Tech, RAND Europe
- Brian Tse, Founder and CEO, Concordia AI
- Dr Matthijs M. Maas, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Law and AI
- Dr Yensi Flores Bueso, Postdoctoral Fellow, University College Cork; and UN Secretary General’s Science Advisor
- Lucia Velasco, Senior Advisor and AI Policy and Governance Lead, UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies
Moderated by Dr Clarissa Rios Rojas, Political Affairs Officer at the BWC-ISU, UNODA
When and where
Wednesday, 26 November 2025, 13:15 – 14:45 CET, online via Zoom. To check your local time, please visit this website.
Participants
The sessions are open to State representatives, civil society, academics and industry experts working on or interested in science and technology issues pertaining to the BWC.
RSVP
Kindly register to attend online and receive the Zoom link.
Further information
For further information, please contact Dr Clarissa Rios Rojas at clarissa.riosrojas@un.org.
In partnership with
