Walter Dorn
Encyclopedia
Walter A. Dorn is a scientist
and educator. He is Chair of the Canadian Pugwash Group, the Canadian branch of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
which received the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize
.
Dorn teaches military officers and civilian students in Toronto
at the Canadian Forces College
(CFC) and also in Kingston
at the Royal Military College of Canada
(RMC). He completed his doctorate
in Chemistry
at the University of Toronto
and now applies this scientific background toward the study of peace and conflict issues. He has pursued this work at the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre
in Nova Scotia
, where he developed and taught courses, as well as at Cornell University
, where he was a Senior Research Fellow.
In 2006, he was commissioned by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations
(DPKO) to conduct a study on technologies for peacekeeping
, especially for monitoring of conflicts, borders, sanctions, civilian protection, staff security, and various Security Council mandates. His report was welcomed by the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping, composed of 124 member states who contribute to peacekeeping
, and DPKO is now seeking to implement the report's recommendations. He also assisted with the negotiation, ratification, and implementation of the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention
(CWC) as the CWC Coordinator with Parliamentarians for Global Action. Dorn addressed the UN General Assembly
in 1988 at the Second UN Special Session on Disarmament. Since 1983, he has served as the UN Representative of Science for Peace
, a Canadian non-governmental organization
(NGO).
Dorn also has wide-ranging experience in United Nations
field missions such as the United Nations Mission in East Timor
, the UNDP projects in Ethiopia
, and as a Training Adviser with the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations
(DPKO). Of late, he has conducted a review of the peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
.
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
and educator. He is Chair of the Canadian Pugwash Group, the Canadian branch of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
The Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs is an international organization that brings together scholars and public figures to work toward reducing the danger of armed conflict and to seek solutions to global security threats...
which received the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
.
Dorn teaches military officers and civilian students in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
at the Canadian Forces College
Canadian Forces College
The Canadian Forces College is a military school for senior and general officers of the Canadian Forces. The college provides military education courses meant to enable officers to effectively provide leadership within the Canadian Forces. Additionally, the Non-Commissioned Members Profession...
(CFC) and also in Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
at the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
(RMC). He completed his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and now applies this scientific background toward the study of peace and conflict issues. He has pursued this work at the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre
Pearson Peacekeeping Centre
Established in 1994 by the Government of Canada, the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre is an independent, not-for-profit organization with its office based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on the campus of Carleton University...
in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, where he developed and taught courses, as well as at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, where he was a Senior Research Fellow.
In 2006, he was commissioned by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations
Department of Peacekeeping Operations
The Department of Peacekeeping Operations is a department of the United Nations which is charged with the planning, preparation, management and direction of UN peacekeeping operations.-History of the DPKO:...
(DPKO) to conduct a study on technologies for peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
, especially for monitoring of conflicts, borders, sanctions, civilian protection, staff security, and various Security Council mandates. His report was welcomed by the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping, composed of 124 member states who contribute to peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
, and DPKO is now seeking to implement the report's recommendations. He also assisted with the negotiation, ratification, and implementation of the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention
Chemical Weapons Convention
The Chemical Weapons Convention is an arms control agreement which outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. Its full name is the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction...
(CWC) as the CWC Coordinator with Parliamentarians for Global Action. Dorn addressed the UN General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
in 1988 at the Second UN Special Session on Disarmament. Since 1983, he has served as the UN Representative of Science for Peace
Science for Peace
Science for Peace is an organization of mainly Canadian scientists working together to promote peace worldwide. It was co-founded by mathematical psychologist Anatol Rapoport, and physicist Eric Fawcett, both former professors at the University of Toronto. It is based in Toronto, Ontario.-External...
, a Canadian non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(NGO).
Dorn also has wide-ranging experience in United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
field missions such as the United Nations Mission in East Timor
United Nations Mission in East Timor
The United Nations Mission in East Timor was established by Security Council Resolution 1246 on 11 June 1999 for a period up to 31 August 1999...
, the UNDP projects in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, and as a Training Adviser with the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations
Department of Peacekeeping Operations
The Department of Peacekeeping Operations is a department of the United Nations which is charged with the planning, preparation, management and direction of UN peacekeeping operations.-History of the DPKO:...
(DPKO). Of late, he has conducted a review of the peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
.
Selected bibliography
- "World Order For a New Millennium: Political, Cultural and Spiritual Approaches to Building Peace." (St. Marin's Press and Macmillan press, 1999)
- The Cuban Missile Crisis Resolved
- Who is Dying for Peace?
- Canadian Peacekeeping: No Myth But Not What It Once Was
- Canada pulls out of peacekeeping
- Afghanistan and UN Peacekeeping - Testimony to the Foreign Affairs Committee
- Intelligence and Peacekeeping: The UN Operation in the Congo 1960-64
- Intelligence and the Operation in Eastern Zaire 1996
- Intelligence-Gathering in UN Peacekeeping: The Limits
- Militias in East Timor: Personal Encounters
- Preventing the Bloodbath:Could the UN have Predicted & Prevented the Rwanda Genocide?