The third and most recent conference in the Hofburg series was the Science and Technology 2011 conference from 8 to 10 June. The event attracted around 750 scientists, diplomats, representatives of civil society and the media, representing a total of 105 countries. Participants discussed advances in science and technology relevant to test ban verification and explored scientific applications of the CTBT verification infrastructure.

Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger assured the conference that his country “will continue to work to convince the remaining States that still have to join for the Treaty to come into force”, describing the CTBT’s entry into force as “long overdue and necessary”.

Keynote speakers included Dr Richard L. Garwin, one of the most widely respected scientific advisers to the United States government on a range of issues including the safety of nuclear weapons and arms control, and Dr David Strangway, geophysicist and former chief of NASA's Geophysics Branch. Professor of Earth and Planetary Science Raymond Jeanloz moderated their discussion.

The conference was structured into five themes (click to view the corresponding abstracts):

• The Earth as a complex system
• Understanding the nuclear explosion source
• Advances in sensors, networks and observational technologies
• Advances in computing, processing and visualization for verification applications
• Creating knowledge through partnerships, training and information / communication technology

A special session was devoted to the 11 March 2011 Japanese Event and its aftermath.

Read the summary of the conference here or see the conference website here.

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Organizational structure of the PTS