RMC leads the 2021 Workshops and Symposia of the International Society of Military Sciences (ISMS)

This year’s theme is Progress in Military Sciences for Resilience and Cohesion in the Face of New Forms of Disruption. In collaboration with ISMS member institutions, RMC, known as an intellectual engine for innovation in security thinking, set the theme to match current Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and government topics of interest.

"Benefits to the CAF from participating in this international activity include support to defence education diplomacy, research evaluations, professional military education curriculum exchange and development, faculty socialization, and business meetings for research centres, librarians and journal editors," said Dr. Pierre Jolicoeur, RMC’s Associate Vice-Principal Research, and ISMS 2021 Conference Chair.

“The CAF’s participation in the ISMS helps by leveraging knowledge, doing more than we can do by ourselves,” added Dr. David Last, RMC Professor and ISMS Secretary.

ISMS is made up of a consortium of national defence universities in 10 countries with small- to medium-sized millitaries. It has been meeting annually since 2008, and RMC is one of the founding members. RMC last hosted the conference in 2012. RMC’s Principal, Dr. Harry Kowal, assumed the presidency of ISMS after the virtual conference hosted by the National Defence University of Finland in 2020.

“In forming ISMS, a number defence universities from around the world have come together to create a vibrant hub to exchange knowledge and share best practices,” said Dr. Kowal. “It is a unique and supportive group of RMC’s peer institutions.”

At this year’s event, ten working groups will address war studies, military history, military technology, leadership, military law and ethics, security and defence policy, armed forces and society, defence economics and management, military education and strategy. Librarians, editors and research centres for the security sector will be represented in business meetings.  

More than 70 research papers will be presented from more than 20 countries, and roundtables will provide an opportunity for discussion and shared learning amongst academics and military professionals.

University of Waterloo professor Thomas Homer-Dixon, author of Commanding Hope: The Power we have to Renew a World in Peril, will provide the keynote address on climate security.

To register for the ISMS workshops and symposium, visit International Society of Military Sciences (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website) and follow the links. Registration opens September 15, 2021.