IUPAC

To raise awareness of the chemical threat and to identify gaps in chemical security and chemical safety practices in South and Southeast Asia among practicing chemists, governmental officials, and regional chemical industry representatives.

This project will develop and implement a one day workshop titled, 'Chemical Safety and Security in the 21st Century' on 26 August 2007, immediately following the 12th Asian Chemical Congress slated for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to be held 23-25 August 2007.

This event is envisioned to be a collaboration between IUPAC and the United States State Department Chemical Security Engagement Program, a newly launched effort to implement programming in conjunction with host governments to fill critical gaps in chemical security and safety in regions with high terrorist activity.

IUPAC is particularly well-positioned to implement such a project on the basis of its previous work on related issues with the OPCW.* This initiative proposes to broaden IUPAC's work in this area through focusing specifically on the chemical terrorism threat. The workshop will include practicing chemists from South and Southeast Asia, governmental officials from Malaysia and other countries in the region attending the 12th Asian Chemical Congress, industry, and global experts in chemical security and chemical safety. The Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR) proposes to coordinate outreach to the Governmental officials. ISN/CTR will work closely with IUPAC to ensure that the event meets mutual objectives and looks to IUPAC for additional recommendations and suggestions.

This project has three goals:

1. Gain understanding about gaps in chemical security and chemical safety as identified by Governmental officials, practicing chemists, industry representatives, and international experts, with a particular focus on South and Southeast Asia.
2. Investigate ways in which IUPAC, other international organizations, and the State Department Chemical Security Engagement Program could develop programming to work with host governments, practicing chemists, local and regional chemical organizations, and chemical industry to begin to fill gaps. Follow on efforts could include best practices training, risk management strategy sharing, and cooperative research and development.
3. Raise awareness of chemical terrorism threat among practicing chemists and industry in South and Southeast Asia.

* For IUPAC projects related to OPCW issues, see:

- project 2006-036-1-020 - The impact of advances in science and technology on the Chemical Weapons Convention

- project 2005-029-1-050 - Educational material for raising awareness of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the multiple uses of chemicals

- project 2004-048-1-020 - A joint OPCW - IUPAC project on education and outreach regarding chemical weapons

- project 2001-057-1-020 - Impact of scientific developments on the Chemical Weapons Convention