4th Annual Science and Technology for Homeland Security and Resilience Conference 2008

08:30, 25 - 26 Jun 2008
RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET

Link to map: multimap

About the event:

The technology imperative for building notions of national security has never been stronger. Technological possibilities are irresistible to governments pressured to increase the security of those individuals that comprise the state they govern. However, how do technologies introduced to increase security impact upon perceptions of a secure nation?

Taking its lead from 2007’s pivotal conference, where the Home Office announced their Security and Counter-Terrorism Science and Innovation Strategy, this year’s Conference invites leading government and private sector speakers to discuss the technological and policy advances that have been made for enhancing national security.  The conference will also examine how terrorists wish to utilise technology of devastating power against the state and explores some of the ways in which these attempts are countered.

With current government focus on strengthening border security at airports and ports, and confirming the identity of those wishing to enter the country, the conference will examine the technologies that will enable this capability as well as some of the social and ethical dilemmas that the technology presents.

This conference is essential for individuals across the private and public sector who have responsibility for elements of national security, procurement, science and technology development and deployment.

Key questions and topics of discussion:

• How does technology strengthen society’s perceptions of ‘security’?
• What are the key technological gaps that require innovation and solutions from industry to enhance national security?
• What role do the public and private sectors have to play in technological innovation and staying one step ahead of the terrorist?
• What are the key ethical dilemmas that arise when introducing new security technologies?

Confirmed Speakers:

• Stephen Smith, Director, Office for Security and Counter Terrorism, Home Office
• Sir David Omand, Vice Chairman, RUSI
• Dr Starnes Walker, Director of Research, Science and Technology Directorate, Department of Homeland Security
• Professor Tom Sorrell, John Ferguson Professor of Global Ethics, Director, Centre for the Study of Global Ethics, University of Birmingham
• Erik Berglund, Head of Research and Development Unit, FRONTEX
• Major General Abdul Latif Rashid Al Zayani, Chief of Public Security, Kingdom of Bahrain
• Dan Gardner, Ottawa Citizen and Author of ‘Risk – The Science and Politics of Fear’
• Dr Piers Millett, Biological Weapons Convention Meetings Secretariat, Office for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations
• Dr Dean Payne, UK Government Chief CBRN Science Advisor
• Ian Neill, Deputy Director, E-Borders Programme, Home Office 
• Adam Ogilvie-Smith, Consultant, Thales
• Dr Brooke Rogers, Lecturer in Risk and Terror, The King's Centre for Risk Management, Department of Geography, Kings College London
• Neil Fisher, VP Identity Management and UK Security Executive, Global Public Sector, Unisys Limited
• Andrew Fitzmaurice, Management Consultant, Central Sponsor for Information Assurance/Data Handling Review Team, Cabinet Office
• Darius Aibara & Colin Morison, Assistant Directors, Explosion Effects Group, TPS Consulting
• Professor Peter Zimmerman, Emeritus Professor, King's College London
• Dr Joseph Gaiva Kappia, Research Fellow, Civil & Building Engineering Department, Loughborough University
  

To enquire about involvement in or support of this event please contact Tom Mortimer on tomm@rusi.org or +44 (0) 20 7747 2627

Event manager: Jennifer Walker, +44 (0)20 7747 2643