UNODA engages with Harvard University to bring Youth4Disarmament leaders and students together to discuss art, design, and nuclear disarmament

Through a series of exchanges with Harvard University, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) has engaged in conversations with 17 students from the university’s Graduate School of Design. The course explores the theme of "survival in times of an endangered and uncertain future" through an examination of nuclear issues. 

On 12 April 2023, UNODA’s #Youth4Disarmament initiative joined a session of the course to provide feedback on the students' projects and discuss interlinkages between art, design, and nuclear disarmament. Eight young disarmament leaders, consisting of #Youth4Disarmament alumni, as well as members of civil society organizations, participated in the peer-to-peer review session. 

The course was led by Ms. Malkit Shoshan, founder and director of the architectural think tank Foundation for Achieving Seamless Territory and a lecturer at Harvard University. Students presented projects on a range of topics, including the aftereffects of nuclear testing and the devastating impact of landmines and cluster munitions on local communities. Through multi-media and interdisciplinary approaches, the students presented compelling narratives on nuclear issues. 

Ms. Lovely Umayam, founder of the Bombshelltoe Policy and Arts Collective, provided opening remarks and emphasized that the way people think about “nuclear” is very diverse and that hearing and honouring people’s stories through creative work is important. 

Through the discussion, the students learned about the #Youth4Disarmament initiative’s work on a variety of topics and gained a deeper understanding of the United Nations’ work on disarmament issues. 

If interested in learning more about the work of the United Nations on topics related to disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control, please visit UNODA’s dedicated website.