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. 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 August 1955, was organized by Danish physicist Niels Bohr, who played a central role in promoting international cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. 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.
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)
Proceedings of the 2nd United Nations International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (1–13 September 1958)
Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (31 August - 9 September 1964)
Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (6 - 16 September 1971)
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.
External links Atoms For Peace (1955) on YouTube "UN Archives Geneva". UN Geneva. UN. Retrieved 2023-07-15. "United Nations Digital Library". UN. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
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