On 11 August 2025, the Biological Security Research Centre (BSRC) published a formal statement to the Sixth Session of the Working Group on the Strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention.
The statement titled “From Concept to Action: Implementing an International Biosecurity Education Network (IBSEN)” highlighted the importance of the BWC Chair’s Non-paper rolling text in which it recommends:
“3. …. that the Implementation Support Unit cooperates with relevant stakeholders to establish an International Biosecurity Education Network. This Education Network would serve as a forum to further promote the harmonization of curricula and the evaluation of biosecurity education. It would develop freely accessible teaching materials such as MOOC-style online courses and support biosecurity education at the national level which is informed by best practices. Furthermore, the Education Network would serve as a platform for student and faculty exchanges with the aim of fostering and facilitating international scientific exchange and collaboration for peaceful purposes.”
The statement emphasized that the proposal to establish an IBSEN is likely to gain broad civil society support because:
- It builds on proven initiatives by the IAEA, OPCW, and other organizations that show education is an effective way to strengthen security agreements.
- International guidelines, such as the Tianjin Guidelines and WHO’s Global Guidance Framework, emphasize the urgent need to raise awareness in the life sciences about potential misuse and related risks, which is currently lacking.
- Past biosecurity projects funded by various sources have gathered valuable global insights, already being shared through the pilot International Biosecurity Education Network at London Metropolitan University.
- By implementing the network under the ISU, these strong existing foundations could be expanded and coordinated to improve biosecurity education worldwide.
The statement concluded with an open invitation to all delegates to attend LMU’s side event scheduled for 12 August 2025 in the Palais des Nations, Geneva in Room XXII from 13.15-14.45 CET for a robust discussion on the future evolution of biosecurity education and awareness-raising of dual-use issues in the life sciences, including the potential of a well-supported and sustainable International Biosecurity Education Network.
The full statement can be found below.