Scientists Working Group on Biological and Chemical Security
The Scientists Working Group on Biological and Chemical Weapons Control, founded in 1989 at the Federation of American Scientists, moved in November 2003 to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation to join the Center’s new program on biological and chemical weapons control. At present, the defining goals of the Working Group are reinforcing the norm against biological weapons, broadening the norm to encompass all misuse of biology, and supporting all of components of the Biological and Chemical Weapons Conventions. Major interests include preventing the development of biochemical disabling agents as weapons, promoting international measures to monitor biological weapons-capable activities, promoting global cooperative measures for combating infectious diseases, ethical education of bioscientists, monitoring US biodefense and anti-bioterrorism activities and opposing risky or dangerous biological research.
The Working Group develops working papers and reports on technical and policy issues, publishes papers in peer-reviewed journals, and holds seminars and briefings for U.S. and international officials. Working Group members have extensive experience with biological and chemical weapons issues and have an array of technical expertise that they contribute on a voluntary basis.
The Working Group can be reached by contacting Dr. Lynn Klotz at lynnklotz@live.com.
Members of Scientists Working Group
Emeritus Members of Scientists Working Group
Recent Papers and Important Archived Documents
Recent Analysis on Biological and Chemical Weapons
- Op-ed: California biosecurity bill safeguards bioeconomy and public health September 23, 2021
- 3 questions experts say need to be asked about pandemic’s origin June 23, 2021
- Why scientists are concerned about leaks at biolabs May 29, 2021
- Regardless of COVID-19’s origins, experts say it’s time to tighten up biosecurity lab protocols May 28, 2021
- Death by DNA December 7, 2020
- Hold Russia accountable for latest chemical weapons attack September 25, 2020
- Scientists Working Group Co-Founder Dies at 100 September 21, 2020
- Survivor of 1988 Chemical Weapons Attack Shares His Story July 28, 2020
- The pandemic risk of an accidental lab leak of enhanced flu virus: unacceptably high June 26, 2020
- Hill recoils at proposed cut to Pentagon anti-pandemic effort June 19, 2020
