Science and Technology

The Chemical Weapons Convention is built on a scientific foundation; it requires scientific and technological expertise to implement. The OPCW has fostered discourse between scientists and the policymakers of the Convention, ensuring scientific literacy for decision makers and allowing the OPCW to keep pace with technological change.

The resources help stakeholders gain a better understanding of scientific aspects of OPCW’s work, promote scientific literacy, and help them recognise where technological changes can benefit and challenge the implementation of the Convention.

Engaging with Diplomats

OPCW actively promotes scientific literacy for policymaking and treaty implementation. This requires productive discourses to take place between scientific experts and diplomats.

OPCW’s Science for Diplomats initiative provides a forum for interactive engagement and supplies reference materials to diplomats involved in the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Science for Diplomats Initiative

Title Date
Science for Diplomats: Chemical Forensics Brochure 6 March 2024
Science for Diplomats Presentation: Chem-ecting the Dots - the World of Chemical Forensics 6 March 2024
CSP-24, The Return of the Chemical Mystery - Presentation 27 November 2019
CSP-24, The Return of the Chemical Mystery - Poster 27 November 2019
EC-92, Chemical Action on Life Processes - Presentation 9 October 2019
EC-92, Chemical Action on Life Processes - DNA Extraction Instructions 8 October 2019
EC-92, Chemical Action on Life Processes - Poster 8 October 2019
OPCW Chemistry Lessons 2018-2019 29 July 2019
Science for Diplomats EC-91 Poster 10 July 2019
Science for Diplomats DIY Flow Chemistry System 10 July 2019
Science for Diplomats Presentation 10 July 2019
Science for Diplomats Flow Chemistry Cheat Sheet 10 July 2019
The "Science for Diplomats" Annex on Chemicals 12 June 2019
The Science for Diplomats Annex on Chemicals with Augmented Reality 27 May 2019
The Science for Diplomats Annex on Chemicals with Glossary and 3D Objects 27 May 2019
Expanding Chemical Universe Bingo Cards 12 March 2019
Expanding Chemical Universe Construction Kit 12 March 2019
Science for Diplomats at EC-90 Expanding Chemical Universe 12 March 2019
Expanding Chemical Universe Poster 12 March 2019
Visualising Reading Molecular Structures 15 January 2019
Science for Diplomats at RC-4 - Answers to Chemical Mystery 23 November 2018
Science for Diplomats at RC-4 - Convergence and Solving Chemical Mysteries 23 November 2018
Science for Diplomats at RC-4 Poster 23 November 2018
OPCW and IUPAC Presentation: Reflecting on and Taking Forward a Partnership with the Scientific Community 21 November 2018
OPCW and IUPAC Poster: Reflecting on and Taking Forward a Partnership with the Scientific Community 21 November 2018
Science for Diplomats EC89 Poster 9 October 2018
Protective Clothing Levels 9 October 2018
Science for Diplomats EC89 Presentation 9 October 2018
The Chemical Universe: Scheduled and Unscheduled - Unscheduled Science for Diplomats at EC-88, The Hague, 10 July 2018 10 July 2018
Schedule 3 Quiz (Models not included) 3 July 2018
Chemical Universe Instructions for VR 3 July 2018
Schedule 2 Quiz (Models not included) 3 July 2018
Schedule 1 Quiz (Models not included) 3 July 2018
Chemical Universe SciDip Poster 3 July 2018
Science Review for RC4 AR App 13 March 2018
Science Review for RC4 Convergence of the Sciences 13 March 2018
Science Review for RC4 chemical production 13 March 2018
Science Review for RC4 Presentation 13 March 2018
Science for Diplomats EC87 Poster 13 March 2018
Science Review for RC4 new capability 13 March 2018
Science for Diplomats Ice Cream in a Bag: 29 November 2017 29 November 2017
Science for Diplomats at CSP-22 [Poster] 28 November 2017
Trends in Chemical Production, Science for Diplomats at CSP-22 28 November 2017
International Workshop on Trends in Chemical Production Presented to Side event for Conference of States Parties 21, 28 November 2017, Cheng Tang Vice Chairperson, the Scientific Advisory Board 28 November 2017
EC-86: Poster: Innovation and the Chemical Weapons Convention: The Scientific Advisory Board's Report on Emerging Technologies 10 October 2017
EC-86: Presentation: Innovation and the Chemical Weapons Convention: The Scientific Advisory Board's Report on Emerging Technologies 10 October 2017
EC-86: Introduction to Innovation and the Chemical Weapons Convention: The Scientific Advisory Board's Report on Emerging Technologies 10 October 2017
VX: A Brief for States Parties 9 March 2017
EC-84, What Defines a Riot Control Agent? - Introduction 8 March 2017
EC-84, What Defines a Riot Control Agent? - Poster 8 March 2017
EC-84, What Defines a Riot Control Agent? Presentation 8 March 2017
CSP-21 Science for Diplomats SAB Workshop on Chemical Forensics 30 November 2016
CSP-21 Science for Diplomats SAB Workshop on Chemical Warfare Agent Response 30 November 2016
CSP-21 Science for Diplomats Spiez Introduction 30 November 2016
CSP-21 Science for Diplomats Spiez CONVERGENCE 2 30 November 2016
PDF, CSP-21 Science for Diplomats Handout 30 November 2016
Emerging Technologies and the CWC: Mobile Data Collection, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence 28 November 2016
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at the United Nations 28 November 2016
Emerging Technology and the work of the OPCW Scientific Advisory Board 28 November 2016
Poster: Emerging Technology and the work of the OPCW Scientific Advisory Board 28 November 2016
Science for Diplomats 2016 Presentation: Sample Stability and Storage Introduction 12 October 2016
Science for Diplomats 2016 Poster: Sample Storage and Chemical Forensics 12 October 2016
Science for Diplomats 2016 Presentation: Sample Stability and Storage 12 October 2016
Science for Diplomats 2016 Poster: Isotopic labels, stereoisomers, & scheduled chemicals why does this matter? A review of the SAB’s advice 13 July 2016
Science for Diplomats 2016 Presentation: Isotopic labels, stereoisomers, & scheduled chemicals why does this matter? A review of the SAB’s advice 13 July 2016
Science for Diplomats at the OPCW 2014 2015 31 December 2015
Review of Science and Technology: Update from Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW 16 December 2015
Science for Diplomats at CSP-20: Chemical Forensics Poster 2 December 2015
Science for Diplomats at CSP-20: Chemical Forensics Presentation 2 December 2015
Science for Diplomats at CSP-20: Chemical Forensics, VERIFIN's presentation 2 December 2015
Autonomous Systems and Artificial Intelligence in Chemistry - Presentation 30 November 2015
Data Analytics and the CWC: An Introduction to OCPF Site Selection Methodology 6 October 2015
Data Analytics and the CWC: An Introduction to OCPF Site Selection Methodology - Presentation of Mr Murat Gülay 6 October 2015
Data Analytics and the CWC: An Introduction to OCPF Site Selection Methodology - Poster 6 October 2015
Science, Technology and the Chemical Weapons Convention 29 September 2015
The Impact of Science and Technology on the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention 29 September 2015
The Science of Medical Countermeasures 8 July 2015
Briefing given to States Parties by the OPCW Scientific Advisory Board 11 June 2015
The Science of Medical Countermeasures, 8 July 2015 - Poster 18 May 2015
Schedule 1 Chemicals Flyer 17 March 2015
Schedule 1 Chemicals in Industrial Processes 17 March 2015
Schedule 1 and 2 chemicals as captive intermediates and unintended by-products 17 March 2015
The Science of the Bioeconomy 5 December 2014
Bioeconomy: Introduction 5 December 2014
Bioeconomy Flyer 5 December 2014
Biomedical Analysis Poster 10 October 2014
Biomedical Sample Analysis 10 October 2014
Impact of Science and Technology on the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention 30 September 2014
Chemical Analysis in the Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention 9 July 2014
Chemical Analysis in Verification 9 July 2014
Scientific Discovery and Technology Development: Trends and Topics for the CWC Policy-maker 26 June 2014

Science and Technology Reference Materials

Science and Technology directly informs key articles of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Scientific principles define what constitutes a chemical weapon; ensure completeness of declarations; guarantee the application of sampling and analysis and other verification methodologies; guide the processes and methods used for inspections, investigations and destruction; and inform assistance and protection and outreach to scientific communities.

OPCW’s science and technology resources shed light on scientific dimensions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and includes reference materials and infographic guides.

Reference Materials

Title Date
Poster: What is the Language of Chemistry ? 28 October 2019
CNS Acting Chemicals 29 July 2019
OPCW-IUPAC Cooperation 8 July 2019
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Poster 21 January 2019
Periodic Table of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention - Building 27 November 2018
Schedules Quiz 3 August 2018
Schedules Quiz Handout 3 August 2018
Schedules Quiz Answer Sheet 3 August 2018
Schedules Quiz Answer Key 3 August 2018
Guide to Scheduled Chemicals under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) 20 July 2018
Degradation and Environmental Fate of Sulfur Mustard 26 September 2017
Riot Control Agents Poster 20 March 2017
Invesitgation of Polysufide Mustard Analogues and Reactive Intermediates from Levinstein Mustard by Density Functional Theory (DFT) 4 May 2016
Visual Guide to Science and technology of the Chemical Weapons Convention 18 December 2015
Science & Technology Calender 2016 9 December 2015
Ion channels of the Nervous System 8 December 2015
Neurochemistry of Toxins 8 December 2015
Toxins and the Neuromuscular System 8 December 2015
Navigation Guide to Science and Technology Relevant Resources 10 November 2015
Biological Toxins and their Relative Toxicity 9 November 2015
Physicochemical Properties & Relative Toxicity of Chemical Warfare Agents 5 October 2015
Gas mask development during WWI 13 August 2015
Organophosphorus (OP) Nerve Agents and Countermeasures 7 July 2015
Blood Agents and their Countermeasures 7 July 2015
Blister Agents and their Countermeasures 7 July 2015
Choking Agents and their Countermeasures 6 July 2015
Biomedical Analysis Poster 10 October 2014
Chemical Analysis in the CWC - Open Day2012 23 September 2012
Sampling and Analysis Relevant to the Implementation of the CWC

Science and Technology Monitor

Highlighting breakthroughs and new discoveries in the scientific community, both interesting and entertaining.

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