International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy

Swiss delegates at the 1955 conference, the nuclear physicists Paul Scherrer and Hans H. Staub.

The International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy was a series of expert meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, focusing on civilian uses of nuclear energy and developments in nuclear engineering.[1] Four conferences were hosted in total, each with significant contributions from nations with nuclear programs and expertise in the field, e.g. the United States, Soviet Union, Great Britain, and India. Large volumes of unclassified information were shared and documented in the United Nations' proceedings.

The first conference, held in Geneva from 8 to 20 October 1955, was organized by Danish physicist Niels Bohr, who played a central role in promoting international cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.[2] During the conference on 10th August 1955, Bohr delivered an address titled “Physical Science and Man’s Position,” in which he reflected on the broader implications of atomic science and humanity’s role, speaking as part of the program of evening lectures given at the conference.[3][4]

No. Date
1. August 8 to 20, 1955
2. September 1 to 13, 1958
3. August 31 to September 9, 1964
4. September 6 to 16, 1971

Before the conference, the Atoms for Peace program set the course for international cooperation and a comprehensive effort to address nuclear issues during the Cold War. Shortly after the first meeting in 1957, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was founded with the mission to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Through the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1968, the IAEA was also tasked with preventing the diversion of nuclear technology and materials for military purposes.

Publications

Large quantities of scientific papers, colloquially known (at the time) as the Geneva Papers, were published in book form for the conferences. The publications are in English, although some translations have also been published. Individual books have been digitized and made available through the UN Archives (see citations and web links).

Proceedings of the International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (8–20 August 1955)[5]

Vol. Titel
1 The World’s Requirements for Energy; The Role of Nuclear Power
2 Physics; Research Reactors
3 Power Reactors
4 Cross Sections important to Reactor Design
5 Physics of Reactor Design
6 Geology of Uranium and Thorium
7 Nuclear Chemistry and the Effects of Irradiation
8 Production Technology of the Materials Used for Nuclear Energy
9 Reactor Technology and Chemical Processing
10 Radioactive Isotopes and Nuclear Radiations in Medicine
11 Biological Effects of Radiation
12 Radioactive Isotopes and Ionizing Radiations in Agriculture, Physiology and Biochemistry
13 Legal, Administrative, Health and Safety Aspects of Large-Scale Use of Nuclear Energy
14 General Aspects of the Use of Radioactive Isotopes; Dosimetry
15 Applications of Radioactive isotopes and Fission Products in Research and Industry
16 Record of the Conference
17 Index of the Proceedings

Proceedings of the 2nd United Nations International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (1–13 September 1958)[6]

Vol. Titel
1 Progress in Atomic Energy
2 Survey of Raw Material Resources
3 Processing of Raw Materials
4 Production of Nuclear Materials and Isotopes
5 Properties of Reactor Materials
6 Basic Metallurgy and Fabrication of Fuels
7 Reactor Technology
8 Nuclear Power Plants, Part 1
9 Nuclear Power Plants, Part 2
10 Research Reactors
11 Reactor Safety and Control
12 Reactor Physics
13 Reactor Physics and Economics
14 Nuclear Physics and Instrumentation
15 Physics in Nuclear Energy
16 Nuclear Data and Reactor Theory
17 Processing Irradiated Fuels and Radioactive Materials
18 Waste Treatment and Environmental Aspects of Atomic Energy
19 The Use of Isotopes: Industrial Use
20 Isotopes in Research
21 Health and Safety: Dosimetry and Standards
22 Biological effects of Radiation
23 Experience in Radiological Protection
24 Isotopes in Biochemistry and Physiology, Part 1
25 Isotopes in Biochemistry and Physiology, Part 2
26 Isotopes in Medicine
27 Isotopes in Agriculture
28 Basic Chemistry in Nuclear Energy
29 Chemical Effects of Radiation
30 Fundamental Physics
31 Theoretical and Experimental Aspects of Controlled Nuclear Fusion
32 Controlled Fusion Devices
33 Index of the Proceedings

Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (31 August - 9 September 1964)[7]

Vol. Titel
1 Progress in Atomic Energy
2 Reactor Physics
3 Reactor Studies and Performance
4 Reactor Control
5 Nuclear Reactors – I. Gas-cooled and Water-cooled Reactors
6 Nuclear Reactors – II. Fast Reactors and Advanced Concepts
7 Research and Testing Reactors
8 Reactor Engineering and Equipment
9 Reactor Materials
10 Nuclear Fuels – I. Fabrication and Reprocessing
11 Nuclear Fuels – II. Types and Economics
12 Nuclear Fuels – Ill. Raw Materials
13 Nuclear Safety
14 Environmental Aspects of Atomic Energy and Waste Management
15 Special Aspects of Nuclear Energy and Isotope Applications
16 List of Papers and Indexes

Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (6 - 16 September 1971)[8]

Vol. Titel
1 Opening and closing speeches; special talks; world energy needs and resources, and the role of nuclear energy; national and international organizations; narrative of the exhibits
2 Performance of nuclear plants; costing of nuclear plants; fuel management
3 Safety aspects of nuclear plants; legal aspects of nuclear energy
4 Integration of nuclear plants in electrical networks; integrated planning of nuclear industry; fuel materials technology
5 Breeder and advanced converter reactors
6 Small and medium power reactors; desalination and agro-industrial complexes; role of research reactors; impact of nuclear energy in developing countries
7 Advanced energy concepts; peaceful nuclear explosions; special applications, including ship propulsion; controlled thermonuclear reactions; application of transuranium isotopes
8 Uranium and thorium ore resources; fuel fabrication and reprocessing
9 Isotope enrichment; fuel cycles; safeguards
10 Effects of irradiation on fuels and materials
11 Health physics and radiation protection; radioactive waste management; the environment and public acceptance
12 Nuclear methods in food production; education and training, and public information
13 Medical applications; radiation biology
14 Applications of nuclear techniques in industry and natural resources
15 Indexes and lists

Literature

  • AEC (1955). Atoms for Peace.
  • "First International Conference on the Peaceful uses of Atomic Energy". The British Journal of Radiology. 28 (332): 452. August 1955. doi:10.1259/0007-1285-28-332-452. ISSN 0007-1285.
  • IAEA (1964). "The third Geneva Conference". IAEA Bulletin. 6 (4): 3–4. ISSN 0020-6067.
  • "The fourth Geneva conference". IAEA Bulletin. 13 (5): 2–18. 1971. ISSN 0020-6067.
  • Cockcroft, John (30 June 1959). "The Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy". Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 52 (7): 487–493. doi:10.1177/003591575905200701. PMC 1870737. PMID 19994002.
  • Rupp, A. F. (1973). "Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy". Nuclear Technology. 19 (3): 207–208. Bibcode:1973NucTe..19..207R. doi:10.13182/NT73-A15885. ISSN 0029-5450. Retrieved 2025-10-04.

References

  1. ^ Cockcroft, John (1955-09-01). "The Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy: The Geneva International Conference". Nature. 176 (4480): 482–484. Bibcode:1955Natur.176..482C. doi:10.1038/176482a0. ISSN 1476-4687.
  2. ^ "Niels Bohr". PBS. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  3. ^ "Niels Bohr Delivered Lecture at Geneva Conference". The Daily Worker. 1955. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  4. ^ "Physical Science and Man's Position". Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  5. ^ "Proceedings 1955". digitallibrary.un.org. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  6. ^ "Proceedings 1964". digitallibrary.un.org. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  7. ^ "Proceedings 1964". digitallibrary.un.org. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  8. ^ "Proceedings 1971 (1972)". digitallibrary.un.org. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
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