Current research has shown
that it is now possible to harness nuclear technology
to help eliminate malaria, to create environmentally
hardy crops, to remove salt from drinking water,
and to develop new vaccines. This is no longer
science fiction. But in order to accomplish these
technological feats, the cooperation of the international
community will be fundamental.
The
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as part
of its 45th general conference, has organized a
Scientific Forum, to increase the awareness of
its 130 member states of the non-power applications
of nuclear technology Entitled "Serving Human
Needs: Nuclear Technology for Sustainable Development," the
conference is designed to show that nuclear technology
can produce cost-effective solutions to high-priority
problems of sustainable development.
The Forum is scheduled to take place September
18 to 19 in Vienna, Austria. Broken up into five
sessions, four of the meetings will address practical
examples of nuclear technology applications and
will then be followed by a round table discussion.
The role of science and technology transfer in
development will be addressed at the first session.
Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the IAEA,
is scheduled to speak, along with V. S. Ramamurthy,
Chairperson of the Scientific Forum.
Facilitating sustainable
development through the peaceful use of nuclear
technology is the major
theme of this forum. "The Agency’s three
major functions — as a catalyst for the development
and transfer of nuclear technology; as a recognized
authority on nuclear safety; and as an instrument
for the verification of nuclear non-proliferation — are
closely linked with these efforts," said ElBaradei.
About 800 representatives
of the agency’s
130 member states are expected to attend the general
conference, and they are all invited to take part
in the Scientific Forum.
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