Zia Mian
Encyclopedia
Zia Mian is a highly cited Pakistani-American physicist
, nuclear
expert, nuclear policy maker and research scientist at Princeton University
. Dr. Zia Mian is also a prominent peace activist
and a strong supporter of non-nuclear proliferation
, nuclear disarmament
, and peaceful use of nuclear technology
. However, he has strongly supported Pakistan
's peaceful nuclear program in many international
forums and conferences.
He has also criticized Pakistan
's and India
's nuclear weapon
programs in many international forums. He was a staunch critic of President Bush
's policies in South Asia
and especially in Pakistan
, and he heavily criticized President Bush
's policies toward the War on Terror
. He is a sponsor of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
Currently, he is the director of the Project on Peace
and Security
in South Asia
, at the Program on Science and Global Security. He is the editor of several books, his books heavily focus on the issues concerning nuclear science
, nuclear technology
, and Science and technology in Pakistan
. Zia Mia has played a pivotal role in Pakistan's peaceful use of nuclear technology
and helped make two documentary films on peace and security in South Asia
. Mian has been listed as one of the 15 Asian Scientists To Watch by Asian Scientist Magazine
on 15 May 2011.
, Punjab
, Pakistan
. He received his early education from Lahore and later migrated to United Kingdom
with his family. He attended Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
, UK, where he received his B.Sc
in Physics
; later he received his M.Sc
and Ph.D
from the same institution. He then came back to Pakistan where he joined Quaid-i-Azam University
as a Geophysics
professor. In 1994, he went to United States
and taught at Yale University
. In 1997, he joined Princeton University
as a research scientist. At Princeton, he continues to research in non-nuclear proliferation
, nuclear disarmament
, global security issues.
Mian was a strong critic of the President of the United States
, George W. Bush
's policies in the South Asia
particularly Pakistan
. Zia Mian began criticizing President Bush after President Bush visited India
and met with India
n Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh to sign a nuclear deal. According to Mian, neglecting Pakistan
in nuclear issues, will intensify a nuclear arms race between Pakistan and India. Zia Mian also criticized Bush regarding his policies in Afghanistan
by saying that Talibans insurgency has increased, and that NATO and American
forces in Afghanistan, had not introduced any social and economic reforms there. He so said that the Taliban was also destabilizing the adjacent country Pakistan
.
s in Pakistan's universities. Zia Mia also advocated for civilian
nuclear power plants in Pakistan
. Dr. Zia Mian also assisted then-Prime Minister of Pakistan
, Shaukat Aziz
to establish a particle accelerator
s in the universites of Pakistan.
and Quaid-i-Azam University
, Islamabad
. He has worked at the Union of Concerned Scientists, Cambridge
(Massachusetts), and at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad
. He is Associate Editor of Science & Global Security, an international journal for peer-reviewed scientific and technical. In 1997, Dr. Zia Mian joined Princeton University
as a research scientist.
Mian is also on the advisory board of FFIPP-USA (Faculty for Israeli-Palestinian Peace-USA), a network of Palestinian, Israeli, and International faculty, and students, working in for an end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and just peace. http://ffipp.org/about_us
, produced two documentary films focusing on nuclear issues. In an Interview, Dr. Mian said "The aim of the film was to challenge the national stories common in India, Pakistan and Kashmir and to make a case for living together in plural and diverse democratic societies rather than fighting over borders."
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
, nuclear
Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the application of the breakdown as well as the fusion of atomic nuclei and/or the application of other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear physics...
expert, nuclear policy maker and research scientist at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. Dr. Zia Mian is also a prominent peace activist
Peace activist
This list of peace activists includes people who proactively advocate diplomatic, non-military resolution of political disputes, usually through nonviolent means.A peace activist is an activist of the peace movement.*Jane Addams*Martti Ahtisaari...
and a strong supporter of non-nuclear proliferation
Nuclear proliferation
Nuclear proliferation is a term now used to describe the spread of nuclear weapons, fissile material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information, to nations which are not recognized as "Nuclear Weapon States" by the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also known as the...
, nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament refers to both the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons and to the end state of a nuclear-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated....
, and peaceful use of nuclear technology
Nuclear technology
Nuclear technology is technology that involves the reactions of atomic nuclei. Among the notable nuclear technologies are nuclear power, nuclear medicine, and nuclear weapons...
. However, he has strongly supported Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
's peaceful nuclear program in many international
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
forums and conferences.
He has also criticized Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
's and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
's nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
programs in many international forums. He was a staunch critic of President Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's policies in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
and especially in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, and he heavily criticized President Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's policies toward the War on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. He is a sponsor of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
Currently, he is the director of the Project on Peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
and Security
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, at the Program on Science and Global Security. He is the editor of several books, his books heavily focus on the issues concerning nuclear science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, nuclear technology
Nuclear technology
Nuclear technology is technology that involves the reactions of atomic nuclei. Among the notable nuclear technologies are nuclear power, nuclear medicine, and nuclear weapons...
, and Science and technology in Pakistan
Science and technology in Pakistan
In Pakistan, science and technology served as an important part of national politics, practices, and extreme national identities. From 1960s till the present, both science and technology were immediately linked to national ideology and practical functioning of Pakistan, notably the Pakistan Armed...
. Zia Mia has played a pivotal role in Pakistan's peaceful use of nuclear technology
Nuclear technology
Nuclear technology is technology that involves the reactions of atomic nuclei. Among the notable nuclear technologies are nuclear power, nuclear medicine, and nuclear weapons...
and helped make two documentary films on peace and security in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
. Mian has been listed as one of the 15 Asian Scientists To Watch by Asian Scientist Magazine
Asian Scientist Magazine
Asian Scientist Magazine is a science & technology magazine that was launched as an MIT alumni start-up in March 2011 by the company, Asian Scientist LLP....
on 15 May 2011.
Biography
Zia Mian was born in LahoreLahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. He received his early education from Lahore and later migrated to United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with his family. He attended Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, UK, where he received his B.Sc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
; later he received his M.Sc
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
and Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the same institution. He then came back to Pakistan where he joined Quaid-i-Azam University
Quaid-i-Azam University
The Quaid-i-Azam University is a public, research university in Islamabad Capital Territory of Pakistan. It was initially founded as the "University of Islamabad" in July 1967...
as a Geophysics
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
professor. In 1994, he went to United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and taught at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. In 1997, he joined Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
as a research scientist. At Princeton, he continues to research in non-nuclear proliferation
Nuclear proliferation
Nuclear proliferation is a term now used to describe the spread of nuclear weapons, fissile material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information, to nations which are not recognized as "Nuclear Weapon States" by the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also known as the...
, nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament refers to both the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons and to the end state of a nuclear-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated....
, global security issues.
Mian was a strong critic of the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's policies in the South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
particularly Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Zia Mian began criticizing President Bush after President Bush visited India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and met with India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Manmohan Singh to sign a nuclear deal. According to Mian, neglecting Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in nuclear issues, will intensify a nuclear arms race between Pakistan and India. Zia Mian also criticized Bush regarding his policies in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
by saying that Talibans insurgency has increased, and that NATO and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
forces in Afghanistan, had not introduced any social and economic reforms there. He so said that the Taliban was also destabilizing the adjacent country Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
Role in Pakistan's Nuclear Policy
Dr. Zia Mian played a significant role in Pakistan's nuclear policy. He is seen widely with respect in Pakistan's Nuclear Society. He also helped the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan to build and establish particle acceleratorParticle accelerator
A particle accelerator is a device that uses electromagnetic fields to propel charged particles to high speeds and to contain them in well-defined beams. An ordinary CRT television set is a simple form of accelerator. There are two basic types: electrostatic and oscillating field accelerators.In...
s in Pakistan's universities. Zia Mia also advocated for civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
nuclear power plants in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Dr. Zia Mian also assisted then-Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
, Shaukat Aziz
Shaukat Aziz
Shaukat Aziz is a world acclaimed Pakistani economist who was the 15th Prime Minister of Pakistan from May 20, 2004 to 15 November 2007 in a joint military government led by General Pervez Musharraf. A Citibank executive, Aziz returned to Pakistan from the United States to be became Finance...
to establish a particle accelerator
Particle accelerator
A particle accelerator is a device that uses electromagnetic fields to propel charged particles to high speeds and to contain them in well-defined beams. An ordinary CRT television set is a simple form of accelerator. There are two basic types: electrostatic and oscillating field accelerators.In...
s in the universites of Pakistan.
Academic career in Pakistani and American Universities
He has taught at Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and Quaid-i-Azam University
Quaid-i-Azam University
The Quaid-i-Azam University is a public, research university in Islamabad Capital Territory of Pakistan. It was initially founded as the "University of Islamabad" in July 1967...
, Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
. He has worked at the Union of Concerned Scientists, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
(Massachusetts), and at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
. He is Associate Editor of Science & Global Security, an international journal for peer-reviewed scientific and technical. In 1997, Dr. Zia Mian joined Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
as a research scientist.
Mian is also on the advisory board of FFIPP-USA (Faculty for Israeli-Palestinian Peace-USA), a network of Palestinian, Israeli, and International faculty, and students, working in for an end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and just peace. http://ffipp.org/about_us
Documentary films
In 2004, Dr. Zia Mian, along with well-known Pakistani Nuclear Physicist Dr. Pervez HoodbhoyPervez Hoodbhoy
Dr. Prof. Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy , is a Pakistani nuclear physicist, essayist and political-defence analyst. He is the professor of nuclear and high-energy physics, and the head of the Physics Department at the Quaid-e-Azam University . He graduated and also received PhD from MIT and continues to...
, produced two documentary films focusing on nuclear issues. In an Interview, Dr. Mian said "The aim of the film was to challenge the national stories common in India, Pakistan and Kashmir and to make a case for living together in plural and diverse democratic societies rather than fighting over borders."
- Crossing the Lines: Kashmir, Pakistan, India (2004)
- Pakistan and India Under the Nuclear Shadow (2001)
Journals and Scientific Papers
- Nuclear War in South Asia with Matthew McKinzie, Zia Mian and A. H. Nayyar,
- The Nuclear Confrontation in South Asia with Zia Mian,
- Feeding potential for South Asia’s nuclear fire with Zia Mian and Frank von Hippel
- Fissile Materials in South Asia and the Implications of the U.S.-India Nuclear Deal with Zia Mian, A.H. Nayyar, and R. Rajaraman, p
- Stepping away from the Nuclear Abyss with Zia Mian
- Beyond Missile Defense with Andrew Lichterman, Zia Mian and Jurgen Scheffran
- Nuclear War in South Asia with Matthew McKinzie, Zia Mian and A. H. Nayyar
- Wrong Ends, Means, and Needs: Behind the U.S. Nuclear Deal with India with Zia Mia
- A time of testing?, Zia Mian and A.H. Nayyar
- Perspectives - Sanctions: Lift 'em, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Zia Mian
- Plutonium dispersal and health hazards from nuclear weapon accidents, Zia Mian, M V Ramana, R Rajaraman
- THE NEXT GENERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS - Global debate - SOUTH ASIA, RUSSIA, CHINA & THE MIDDLE EAST - ZIA MIAN, M. V. RAMANA, ALEXANDER A. PIKAYEV, DINGLI SHEN & SAIDEH LOTFIAN warn that RRW might prompt states to reevaluate their nuclear postures—And not for the better. Zia Mian, M V Ramana, Alexander A Pikayev, Dingli Shen, Saideh Lotfian
- Resource Letter PSNAC-1: Physics and society: Nuclear arms control Alexander Glaser, Zia Mian
- Response to Zia Mian's 'How Not to Handle Nuclear Security'
- Nuclear Passions and Interests:The Founding of Atomic Pakistan by Zia Mian
External links
- http://web.archive.org/web/20091026151725/http://geocities.com/m_v_ramana/nuclear.html
- http://www.peaceworkmagazine.org/taxonomy/term/49
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWhdKECoqSM&feature=related