NukeVerse

In this Third Edition of the Special Series featuring Women Speakers in the nuclear field, we are joined by Dr Sayaka Shingu in her personal capacity. Dr. Shingu grew up in Hiroshima, and is the granddaughter of hibakushas or atomic bomb survivors. Dr Sayaka Shingu has a prolific career where she currently serves as the Head of Research Section of Disarmament, Non Proliferation and Science Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Dr Shingu holds a PhD in law and a Master's in Non Proliferation and Terrorism studies. In this episode, Dr. Sayaka Shingu in conversation with Dr. Deepshikha Kumari Vijh (Executive Director, LCNP & Executive Producer and Host, NukeVerse) shares her thoughts on her personal and professional journey in multilateralism, diplomacy, & arms control while underscoring the need for dialogue, and the power to overcome divisions.

In this second edition of our "Special Round Table Series 2025" highlighting women speakers, we are joined by a very special guest from New Delhi, India -- Dr. Manpreet Sethi. Dr. Sethi is a Senior Research Adviser at the Asia Pacific Leadership Network, and a Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Air Power Studies, New Delhi,India where she leads the nuclear vertical. Dr. Sethi is an expert on a range of nuclear issues with over two decades of experience in this field. Dr. Sethi is also a member of the International Group of Eminent Persons set up by, the Prime Minister of Japan, to identify pathways to a nuclear weapons free world. In this episode, Dr. Manpreet Sethi is in conversation with Dr. Deepshikha Vijh, (Executive Director Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy) and Executive Producer/Host Nukeverse where they discuss nuclear norms, the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), India's policy and stance as well as the importance of dialogue, and the role of civil society members in bridging the gap between nuclear weapons states and non-nuclear weapons states.

In this "Special Roundtable Series 2025" launched on International Women's Day, NukeVerse will highlight women speakers in the field of nuclear issues, and policy. The idea was to bring in diverse women, but also diversity of thought to discuss nuclear issues and policy from different perspectives. In this inaugural episode "Knowledge and Advocacy on Nuclear Issues: the U.S. Congress, Legislation, and More," Dr. Deeps (Executive Director, Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy and Executive Producer & Host, NukeVerse) is in conversation with Ms. Brenna Gautam, who joins in her personal capacity, and has previously worked in the House Office of Legislative Council and will bring in a perspective from the "inside" so to say. Our second speaker is Ms. Sofia Guerra who is currently a Government Relations Associate at Win Without War, and engages in Congressional outreach from the "outside" so to say. This episode covers a range of issues on advocacy, knowledge, the U.S. Congress, and legislation in the context of security, and nuclear policy.

In this Episode 1 of Season 2, Dr. Kimiaki Kawai, professor at Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition (RECNA) at Nagasaki University speaks with Dr. Deepshikha Vijh, Executive Director (Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy) and shares his thoughts on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings, emphasizing the precarious nature of nuclear deterrence, and the need for international cooperation to prevent nuclear conflict. Dr. Kawai shares his journey from activism to academia, and from Tokyo to Nagasaki focusing on international humanitarian law and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Dr. Kawai highlights the challenges in universalizing the TPNW, the importance of effective dialogue, and the role of civil society in raising awareness about the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. Executive Producer and Host, Dr. Deepshikha Vijh Podcast editor, Miranda Shafer

2024 set in motion the momentum for our work in 2025. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Japanese grassroots organization Nihon Hidankyo, a movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This year, as the world commemorates the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we hope it is a humble reminder of the need to strengthen the norms and laws that reinforce the illegality of nuclear weapons. At NukeVerse we remain committed to this! Join us to navigate Season 2 of NukeVerse with a keen mind and a legal lens! Executive Producer & Host of NukeVerse is Dr. Deepshikha Vijh PhD., Oxford University Podcast Editor for Season 2 is Miranda Shafer.

Dr. John Burroughs Senior Analyst, Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy and Prof. Charles J. Moxley, Jr. a seasoned lawyer and Professor of Law with expertise in Nuclear Weapons speak with Dr. Deeps ( Executive Director, LCNP and Host for Nukeverse) in this Episode 4 of NukeVerse to discuss their published work on law and nuclear weapons, the intersection of the legality of nuclear weapons threat, use and possession, the challenge of normalization of nuclear weapons, the ICJ opinion of 1996, and the need to strengthen legal arguments as it pertains to nuclear weapons policy.

Award-winning director & filmmaker Andrew Davis and award-winning historian, playwright, & journalist Jeff Biggers discuss their co-authored novel, a political thriller, 'Disturbing the Bones,' with Dr. Deeps Vijh (Executive Director, LCNP and Executive Producer and Host, NukeVerse). The authors share how they came together to write this political thriller that combines themes of nuclear disarmament with justice, as we discuss the complexities of personal and political justice, the importance of storytelling in driving disarmament initiatves, and the role of creative media and artists to inspire action against the backdrop of nuclear threats and environmental issues.

How is Climate Change linked to war? We talk about this and more with Professor Neta Crawford in this second episode of the podcast series. Professor Crawford is Montague Burton Chair in International Relations, and also holds a Professorial Fellowship at Balliol College. In this episode, we discuss nuclear winter, the pitfalls of deterrence theory as being built upon the institutionalization of fear, her path-breaking recent work on The Pentagon, Climate Change, and War (MIT Press, 2022) and hear Prof. Crawford elaborate on her research interests that include military greenhouse gas emissions, US foreign and military policy, peace movements, and emotion!

Why do norms of non-proliferation and disarmament matter? And why do countries pursue nuclear weapons? Listen in, as LCNP Executive Director and host for NukeVerse, Deeps discusses this, and more with our first guest Professor Scott Sagan. Professor Sagan is the Co-Director of the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University, where he is also a senior fellow. In this episode we discuss his foundational paper on Three Models in Search of a Bomb, how he became interested in challenging realist perceptions on nuclear policy, the role of norms, and we also touch upon some currents events such as Ukraine and Russia, Iran and the Middle East, as well as his most recent work on public opinion and discourse.

The threat of a devastating nuclear war is greater than it has been in decades; so, what can we do to mitigate the risk? Join us as we discuss diverse issues around nuclear policy and link them with the common thread of legality. NukeVerse is brought to you by the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy, a legacy organization engaged in research and advocacy for nuclear abolition. Senior Executive Producer is Dr. Deeps Vijh PhD., Senior Producer is Miranda Shafer.