W&L lecture examines risk of nuclear war between U.S., China

Dr. Gregory Kulacki, the China project manager and senior analyst in the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists, will lecture at Washington and Lee University on Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. in Elrod Commons 345.

The title of the talk, which is free and open to the public, is “The Risk of Nuclear War between the United States and China.” It is sponsored by W&L’s East Asian Studies Program.

In his talk, Kulacki will explain the many obstacles to reducing and eventually eliminating the risks, and will discuss how concerned individuals in both countries are trying to help their two governments overcome them.

Kulacki has lived and worked in China for the better part of the last 25 years, facilitating exchanges between academic, governmental and professional organizations in both countries. Since joining the Union of Concerned Scientists in 2002, he has focused on promoting and conducting dialog between Chinese and American experts on nuclear arms control and space security.

He has been cited by a number of U.S. and Chinese news organizations, including the New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, the Washington Post, Washington Times, NPR and Nature.

Kulacki’s areas of expertise include Chinese foreign and security policy, Chinese space program, international arms control and cross-cultural communication. He received his Ph.D. in political theory from the University of Maryland, College Park. He completed graduate certificates in Chinese economic history and international politics at Fudan University in Shanghai.

The Union of Concerned Scientists was formed to initiate a critical and continuing examination of governmental policy in areas where science and technology are of actual or potential significance and to devise means for turning research applications away from the present emphasis on military technology toward the solution of pressing environmental and social problems.

The group’s areas of interest include clean energy, clean vehicles, food and agriculture, global warming, nuclear power and nuclear weapons. The organization employs scientists, economists and engineers engaged in environmental and security issues, as well as executive and support staff.