The Italian “Health Safety Environmental Research Association Rome” (HESAR) conducted for the second time a science focused CBRNe Conference – SICC 2020. Due to the COVID-19 crisis the conference took place virtually from 10th – 12th December 2020. As a preliminary remark: The “e” in “CBRNe” abbreviates “explosives”, example is improvised explosive devices (IED). However, “CBRNe” is not a NATO recognized abbreviation. HESAR cooperates closely with the renowned University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. The main areas of cooperation are environmental protection as well as occupational health and safety. The cooperation with „Tor Vergata“ originates in the Universities‘ master studies on CBRN defence.
The conference theme was dedicated to “Epidemics, biological threats and radiological incidents”, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for international research cooperation. As mentioned, the conference was conducted virtually. Even under this restriction, HESAR organized a conference environment as close to reality as possible (Fig. 1).
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Participants joined the conference with their individualized avatars, able to walk around, visit the exhibition and following discussions, chatting and exchanging information close to real life. There was an exception however: no in person dinner. You had to take care of your coffee yourself. HESAR subdivided the conference into two parts – panel sessions and a final plenary session. Six panels covered the five enabling components of CBRN Defence and the lines of capability development („DOTMLPFI“ - doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership development, personnel, facilities, and interoperability); focussing on biological and chemical, as well as on radiological incidents. In addition, an industrial exhibition (amongst others as example B.M.D. - Sistemi integrati di sicurezza, WL GORE & Associati etc.) and a poster competition took place. Approximately 500 guest speakers and participants attended including military, civilian, academic, and industrial which represented more than 48 nations (from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe) and various International Organizations. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was amongst the sponsors.
Lieutenant Colonel Bernd ALLERT co-chaired a panel on “CBRNe crisis and emergency management, communication, Investigation and Forensic, Education and Training” in cooperation with Professor Steve Johnson and Colonel Tiago Lopes (Fig. 2).
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LtCol Allert briefed on “Consequence Management – a Doctrinal Approach”. Why did the JCBRN Defence COE support this conference? First, the JCBRND COE and the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” have signed a memorandum of understanding on mutual cooperation. In addition, LtCol Allert is a member of “Tor Vergata’s” International Scientific Board.
The quality of the presentations varied from excellent to very excellent. However, some of the briefings will be proven to be very useful for those involved in the NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP) or the development of CBRN Defence capabilities (Fig. 3).
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There is no doubt that the conference offered an opportunity to establish and maintain valuable networks. Ms. Olga Vybornova, Centre for Applied Molecular Technologies of Université catholique de Louvain (UCL-CTMA), presented eNOTICE, the European Network of CBRN Training Centres, highlighting JCBRN Defence COE’s role within this network. (Fig. 4)
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The conference served as forum to present new cooperation agreements of “Tor Vergata” with the Institute of Technical Physics Atmospheric Propagation and Effect/German Aerospace Centre, the Lisbon Firefighters Regiment, and the Italian National Order of Biologists as well as to consolidate already existing ones such as with the Abu Dhabi Police State Department (now becoming the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, United Arab Emirates); the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) amongst others.
As a kind of after-action review, HESAR has already published a final report “2nd Scientific International Conference on CBRNe 2020” containing abstracts of all presentations; participants will get access to most of the presentations and posters.
To summarize and taking into consideration the special conditions caused by the COVID-19 crisis, HESAR did an excellent job providing a lot of food for thought.
Author/Photos: Lieutenant Colonel Bernd Allert, Deputy Director/Transformation Support Department Chief/Doctrines & Terminology Section, JCBRN Defence COE, DEU - A
