What is the YPN?

The Young Professionals Network (YPN) is a community of young scientists and technical professionals working on monitoring and verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). 

The YPN is a meeting place where the next generation members of the CTBT National Data Centres and the Provisional Technical Secretariat can meet, discuss and establish relationships to strengthen collaborations within the CTBTO.  

The YPN aims at enabling the next generation to take on formal positions at the National Data Centres, the Provisional Technical Secretariat, and the various tasks related to Working Group B through exchange of knowledge within the network, including transfer of knowledge from senior stakeholders.

The YPN has the ambition to serve as a meeting place for free-thinking where new solutions from a new generation can emerge. 

Why was the Young Professionals Network initiated? 

The Young Professionals Network was introduced by Norway in 2018 with the support of the Executive Secretary and the Provisional Technical Secretariat. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty has been a centrepiece of the global non-proliferation regime for more than 20 years. To ensure that there will be a new generation of experts and leaders to take the work of the CTBTO forward, the recruitment of highly skilled and motivated younger scientists and technical experts is essential.

Focusing on the young will enable the next generation to be better prepared to take on formal positions within the CTBT sphere; both in the National Data Centres, the PTS, and in the various tasks in Working Group B.  

Since 2018, the network has developed into 88 scientists and technical professionals from 34 different countries!