Grant Park students present at Youth Nuclear Peace Summit

Students (from left to right): Heitor Lopes Oshikava, Stella Heng, Sarah Gledson, Dr. Katherine Kristalovich, Anqi Guan, Maya Paille, Amelie Clerkin, Varshini Ramansivakumar

Grant Park School students recently presented at the Youth Nuclear Peace Summit on November 2–3, 2023, at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Rising from deep concerns over escalating tensions, the 3^rd Youth Nuclear Peace Summit focused on engaging and empowering young minds to take action towards the abolition of nuclear weapons. 

This was Grant Park’s second year attending and presenting at the summit. This year, the students researched and presented on the history of the Manhattan project, in particular Oppenheimer. 

“The students discussed the ethical dilemmas that the scientists faced and the impact on the survivors. They also discussed these implications more broadly and the topic of abolishing nuclear weapons was also part of this discussion,” said teacher Dr. Katherine Kristalovich.

Along with the school presentations was a presentation from Dr. Ira Helfand, a member of the International Steering Group of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace prize, and co-President of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. There was also a keynote address by Hon. Marilou McPhedran and Kazuhiro Iguchi Kansai, a program lead from the Soka High School in Japan who teaches students about nuclear war as part of their curriculum.