The Simons Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Research, Liu Institute for Global Issues, UBC

In 2001, The Simons Foundation partnered with The University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, to create the Simons Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Research at the Liu Institute for Global Issues, UBC. The Simons Centre was an academically based research centre focused primarily on nuclear disarmament with a mission to achieve progress toward global nuclear disarmament through nuclear non-proliferation and arms control, supported by disarmament of other forms of mass violence and expansion of genuine human security under law-based global governance.  Since the restructuring of the Liu Institute for Global Issues in 2009, the activities of the Simons Centre have continued through the Liu Institute’s focus on security, sustainability and social justice.

At the Simons Centre, The Simons Foundation established of The Simons Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Their Delivery Systems.  The Fellowship was held by Karthika Sasikumar from January 2006-January 2008, during which time her work was on nuclear non-proliferation and terrorism, with a focus on South Asia, and International Relations Theory.  David Santoro held the position from October 2008-October 2010 and the focus of his research was WMD, weapons proliferation, and arms control.

The UBC Simons Centre Student Policy Research Program in Peace and Disarmament was created by The Simons Foundation to advance the understanding of disarmament and arms control issues among UBC students and to encourage attention to policy strategies to advance their resolution.  This program was first offered in 2003 and is open to all full time UBC graduate students or undergraduate students of at least third year standing.  Students selected to participate in the program are designated "Simons Centre Student Disarmament Research Associates" and receive a $1,000 cash award upon their satisfactory completion of a policy-relevant paper.  The Simons Centre Student Disarmament Research Associates may also be given the opportunity to present their papers at a public seminar hosted by the Simons Centre.

The Simons Foundation has also created endowments to support the Simons Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Research Directorship and a Professorship in Disarmament and Non-Proliferation at The University of British Columbia.

In 2014, The Simons Foundation combined endowments previously established to support the Simons Directorship in Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Research, the Simons Professorship in Peace and Disarmament, and the Simons Professorship in Human Security to create the new Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security at The University of British Columbia's School of Public Policy and Global Affairs.

For more information on the activities of the Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security please contact the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs at The University of British Columbia.