Professionals celebrate and update Eisenhower's vision for the atom
In a historic event, President Eisenhower captured the desires and hopes of the nations of the world in his "Atoms for Peace" speech to the United Nations General Assembly on December 8, 1953. He suggested that human aspiration would triumph and allow nuclear science and technology to benefit of all humankind. "In the last 50 years, America has transformed his dream of the peaceful atom into prosperity for the world's citizens" said Larry Foulke, ANS president.
In the fifty-year period since the "Atoms for Peace" speech, the global nuclear research and development community has evolved from conducting fundamental scientific investigations to developing real-world, peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology in business and society. As Eisenhower envisioned, the science and technology of the atom are today positive parts of our everyday lives.
Nationally, civilian nuclear power reactors provide 20% of our electricity without adding to air pollution. The world's scientific community recognizes the technology that will allow for the safe disposal of radioactive waste. Radioisotopes have proven to be priceless in medicine, agriculture, industry, and space exploration. Well over three million Americans hold jobs that involve nuclear science and technology in fields that contribute hundreds of billions of dollars to the economy.
On this 50th Anniversary of Eisenhower's address, ANS celebrates these accomplishments and the adaptation of atomic energy to the arts of peace.
