The International Scientific Studies (ISS) Conference took place in Vienna, Austria, from 10 to 12 June 2009. It's purpose was twofold: to assess the capability and readiness of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) verification system; and to further develop the cooperation between the scientific community and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).

The Conference was the culmination of a year-long series of independent assessments and studies of the CTBT’s ability to detect nuclear explosions anywhere on the planet. Around 500 scientists from 99 countries came together to contribute ideas, data and research findings. Over 200 scientific posters were submitted to the Conference covering the eight topic areas addressed by the project.


United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed participants through a video message. The Conference was opened by the Austrian Foreign Minister, Michael Spindelegger (address), and Tibor Tóth, the Executive Secretary of the CTBTO (address).

The Conference involved a series of presentations and panel discussions in which some of the world’s most eminent scientists in the verification field participated.  Various themes were discussed in detail including:

•    Advances in the detection capabilities of the four CTBT verification technologies over the last decade.
•    Synergies between the different technologies.
•    On-site inspections.
•    Potential civil and scientific applications of verification data.
•    Science for security.
•    Future collaboration between the CTBTO and the scientific community.

Two major events preceding the conference provided ample topics for discussion: the May 2009 declared DPRK nuclear test and the major on-site inspection exercise conducted in September 2008 in Kazakhstan.

Read a summary of the conference's main findings here or see the conference webpage here.