2017 CIF Alumni Spotlight: Manan Ajay Shah

Manan Shah, a recent graduate of the Harker School, attended the 2016 CIF conference in Monterey, USA and the 2017 CIF conference in Nagasaki, Japan. As a sophomore in high school, Manan worked with his school’s team on a policy paper and presentation regarding a humanitarian approach to nuclear disarmament. Since then, in his junior and senior years, Manan directed his school’s CIF program, created a public website to showcase their work (cif.harker.org), and spearheaded writing two additional policy papers on topics of global nuclear vulnerability and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

Manan joined the CIF program in 2015 due to his interest in the intersection of the scientific and political underpinnings of nuclear weapon development and management. He was immediately enthralled by the vast expanse of political decisions and international accords that provide a foundation for weapons development and form a complex web behind the ones and zeros of scientific investigation. With each additional treaty and diplomatic objective he examined, Manan grew more attuned to the intricacies of international relations and the problems impeding universal disarmament.

Manan’s first research topic for the Critical Issues Forum focused on humanitarian approaches to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Working with his teammates and Harker’s program director Dr. Eric Nelson, Manan considered numerous related humanitarian efforts (including measures to prohibit land mines, ban chemical weapons, and end slavery) to identify common successes and failures and pave way for a more successful initiative in the future.

Having acquired knowledge about nuclear weapons and the international policies surrounding their use, Manan lead the CIF program in his junior year to investigate the topic of global nuclear vulnerability and its implications on nuclear disarmament policies. Manan dived deeper into the factors surrounding our enhanced nuclear vulnerability today, identifying a series of concrete implementable procedures to reduce risk of future mishaps. With a 22 page paper in hand, Manan and his teammate Tiffany presented the group’s findings at the 2016 conference to a group of colleagues from Japan, Russia, and the United States. Alongside receiving valuable feedback from fellow high school students pursuing similar objectives, Manan was able to meet with former Secretary of Defense Dr. William Perry who gave the keynote address at the conference and learn from his wealth of knowledge as well as his steadfast dedication to a more secure world.

As a senior, Manan integrated his knowledge from his past two conferences to thoroughly investigate the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. By highlighting the major concerns in each of the status quo high-risk regions of interest, Manan worked with his team to generate a unique multifaceted policy proposal that incorporated both broad global precedents and individualized regional solutions to promote effective change. Reconnecting with returning conference participants, visiting atomic bomb historical sites, and living with an extremely caring host family allowed Manan to experience the culture of Nagasaki at the 2017 CIF conference, where with his teammate Michael he presented the group’s collaborative work. By immersing himself in Japanese culture, observing the destruction caused by nuclear weapons, and listening to Hibakusha relate their personal experiences, Manan was able to understand the issue of nuclear disarmament in a unique manner. Hearing Dr. Lassina Zerbo (the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization) affirm the importance of youth activism to promote a nuclear weapon-free world both furthered Manan’s resolve and provided hope for the future, setting an optimistic tone at the conclusion of the conference. Manan hopes to continue his activities for nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation at Stanford University, where he will study starting fall 2017. 

Participating in the CIF program allowed Manan to delve into a world of international relations, diplomacy, and global issues at an unprecedented level. Making new friends from across the globe, interacting with renowned professors and world leaders, and presenting his work to a body of fellow nonproliferation and disarmament activists was truly a life-changing experience for Manan; these issues will stay close to his heart both in college and beyond.