My guest today, Zia Mian is co-director of Princeton University's Program on Science and Global Security. He's a physicist who has long studied nuclear weapons and nuclear security. In our conversation Zia Mian explains how scientists have impacted policy discussions about nuclear weapons since the dawn of the nuclear age, and how as the nuclear security landscape is evolving--and as science is advancing, scientists can continue to contribute to our understanding of the effects of a nuclear war.

In addition to his perch at Princeton, Zia Mian serves as Co-Chair of the Scientific Advisory Group of the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This is the first first international scientific body created by a United Nations treaty process for the purpose of advancing nuclear disarmament and in our conversation he explains how the work of scientists can contribute to a nuclear free world.

We kick off, however, discussing the recent conflict between India and Pakistan and what this conflict says about the role of nuclear weapons in international security today.

We recorded this conversation in conjunction with the Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference. To view other episodes in this series please visit GlobalDispatches.org