Are you concerned by the direction the world is moving in? Do you want to learn more about nuclear weapons and the risks they pose to human and environmental health? Have you been seeking ways to make change? Do you want to join global efforts to pull us back from the brink of nuclear war and abolish nuclear weapons?
You’re in the right place!
IPPNW’s 10-month long Global Classroom will deliver a structured, accessible, and high-quality educational program that strengthens global understanding of the humanitarian and environmental impacts of nuclear weapons, the current risks posed by nuclear weapons, and the actions individuals can take to advance the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The program will feature leading experts from the global disarmament movement, academia, health sector, and the United Nations. The series is designed to build a knowledgeable cohort ready to contribute to our global efforts to safeguard our common future.
Exclusive campaigning opportunities, including the chance to speak at the United Nations, and a certificate of completion will be made available for individuals who actively participate in all modules. Learn more in the FAQs below.
The Global Classroom will run from February–November 2026, with 12 sessions total including 10 core lessons.
Whether you have been a member of IPPNW for decades and need a primer or just found us today, this program is for you.
Modules
Launch:
Welcome to IPPNW’s Global Classroom
Friday, 20 February at 1pm GMT
Speakers:
- Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, Deputy Director-General, Global Governance and Continental Agenda, Deputy Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations
- Melissa Parke, Executive Director, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN, 2017 Nobel Peace Prize)
- Dr. Ruth Mitchell, Board Chair, IPPNW (1985 Nobel Peace Prize
- Moderator: Molly McGinty
Expected outcomes:
- Participants will hear from leading nuclear disarmament experts and campaigners, review the program and expectations for the Global Classroom, and share ideas on the year ahead.
1.
So, nuclear weapons?
Monday, 2 March at 8pm GMT
Speakers:
- Kalender Mulkubatov, Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations
- Mackenzie Knight, Senior Research Associate, Nuclear Information Project, Federation of American Scientists
- Moderator: Molly McGinty, Program Director, IPPNW
Expected outcomes:
- Through this “nuclear weapons 101” session, participants will learn about the foundations of today’s nuclear arsenals, including stockpiles, nuclear armed states, types of weapons, and the unique destructive properties of nuclear weapons.
2.
What makes nuclear weapons different from other weaponry?
Speakers:
- Dr. Joe Hodgkin, Hospitalist, Co-Chair, Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility
Expected outcomes:
- Building on the foundational information discussed in the first module, an expert speaker will provide an overview of the humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons, including immediate and long-term health effects, radiation, infrastructure collapse, and cascading consequences such as famine.
3.
What are countries discussing at the UN this month? A brief on the NPT
Late April to early May, details to be confirmed
Speakers:
- To be confirmed.
Expected outcomes:
- Coinciding with the Review Conference to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), participants will learn about a number of relevant disarmament treaties and how they interact with one another, namely the NPT and Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
4.
Is any medical community able to respond to a single nuclear detonation?
Mid May to early June, details to be confirmed
Speakers:
- To be confirmed.
Expected outcomes:
- Expanding on module 2, participants will receive an in-depth exploration of the medical communities inability to respond, with a focus on blast and burns, including availability of burn beds.
5.
What does radiation do to the body?
Mid-June to early July, details to be confirmed
Speakers:
- To be confirmed.
Expected outcomes:
- Building on modules 2 and 4, participants will receive an in-depth presentation of radiation’s biological and medical impacts.
6.
How do nuclear weapons affect mental health?
Mid-July, details to be confirmed
Speakers:
- To be confirmed.
Expected outcomes:
- Looking at a number of IPPNW and PSR studies from the 1980’s, participants will learn about the psychological and societal impacts of nuclear threat and use.
7.
What happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki 81 years ago?
Early-mid August, details to be confirmed
Speakers:
- To be confirmed.
Expected outcomes:
- 81 years after the catastrophic atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which instantly killed tens of thousands of citizens, participants will hear testimony from Hibakusha and an analysis of the health and humanitarian consequences. Never again.
8.
What happens if multiple nuclear weapons are detonated?
Mid-September, details to be confirmed
Speakers:
- To be confirmed.
Expected outcomes:
- It has long been clear that an all-out nuclear war would wreck havoc on the world. Recent studies have shown that even a so-called “limited” nuclear war could kill up to every 3rd person on earth, reaching far beyond nuclear armed states. Experts will give an in-depth exploration of nuclear famine and environmental disruption through climate modeling.
9.
Aren’t nuclear weapons supposed to keep us safe? A brief on deterrence
Early October, details to be confirmed
Speakers:
- To be confirmed.
Expected outcomes:
- Participants will hear from leading experts on the theory of deterrence, risk of use, and misconceptions about nuclear security.
10.
How many nuclear weapons have been detonated?
Last October to early November, details to be confirmed
Speakers:
- To be confirmed.
Expected outcomes:
- Building on all previous modules, participants will learn about the legacy of 20th Century nuclear weapons “tests”, which continue to have adverse impacts on human and environmental health.
Conclusion
IPPNW Side Event at the Review Conference to the TPNW, featuring participation by Global Classroom participants
November 30-December 4, details to be confirmed
Speakers:
- Global Classroom participants.
Expected outcomes:
- Global Classroom participants will share lessons learned from the 10 month program and offer insights to UN delegates and fellow civil society leaders.
The Global Classroom is made possible with the generous support of Soka Gakkai International (SGI). Learn more about SGI here. 
FAQs
Anyone is welcome to join the IPPNW Global Classroom. Priority outreach will focus on medical students, junior doctors, health professionals, and individuals already engaged in peace, health, or disarmament work who seek deeper understanding. All are welcome, regardless of past experience, gender, race, nationality, or sexual orientation. No past engagement is required.
Sessions will be held between February to November 2026 every 3-5 weeks at staggered times to accommodate participants and speakers in varying time zones. Every session will be recorded and made available online.
The threat of nuclear war has never been higher. We need everyone, and especially the emerging generations, to be well-equipped with the information and tools to make change.
Participants completing all 10 sessions will have the opportunity to:
- Earn an official certificate of completion that will boost your CV.
- Apply to present research or reflections at an IPPNW side event on the margins of the 2026 TPNW Review Conference. Virtual participation will be made available. Priority will be given to health professionals, medical students, and other young leaders. 4-5 participants will be chosen.
- Pending funding cohort participants will be offered the opportunity to apply for advocacy microgrants to complete local or national advocacy ranging from meetings with health ministries to symposiums to bike tours.
Contact Molly McGinty, IPPNW Program Director, with any questions.