Introducing the YATA Future Forum v1.0: Technology and Security

What is your vision for a more secure future and how can the Atlantic Community achieve it? Living in an increasingly complex world, everyday we find new opportunities and new challenges. The bi-polar world of the Cold War has long passed, yet governments and international organizations seem unprepared for emerging threats. These challenges will be met by future leaders, like you.

To help overcome these challenges, the YATA Board announces the YATA Future Forum. Organized each three months, The Future Forum will introduce new topics based on emerging threats and themes in international security. All YATA Chapters will be able to contribute to the collective thinking on a topic by bringing together experts and ideas through an array of formats, including writing and events.

The first Future Forum topic will be Technology and Security. How has technology impacted our current security situation? Is technology itself the threat or the solution? National YATA associations can choose to focus on any subtopic under this heading, for instance:
● Energy Security: Can synthetic fuels and technologies help overcome the oil shortage?
● Environmental Security: How have industrial processes impacted our climate? Can new innovations ‘engineer’ our climate?
● Cyber-security: How do terrorist networks use the internet for strategic communications? Are governments and militaries keeping pace?
● Nuclear proliferation: Will new nuclear technologies introduce a new ‘arms race’?

These are just suggestions. All YATA associations can choose a topic that fits their group or region. What can your YATA do? The world is yours! Any contribution, particularly creative ones, are welcome! You might choose to organize a national position paper, a blog post, interview an expert, organize a ‘roundtable discussion’, a seminar, create a video for Youtube… it’s up to you! All contributions will be featured on the YATA Blog and the upcoming YATA newsletter! Outstanding contributions might also be featured through partner organizations.

We are sure you will have questions or input on this matter and encourage you to contact Mads Søndergaard Thomsen, Secretary General of the YATA Board at mads@atlant.dk We look forward to your contributions!