GENEVA 22 October 2008 IAEA Fusion Energy Conference marks 50th years of Nuclear Fusion research

Scientists at the International Atomic Energy Agency Fusion Conference will celebrate 50 years of nuclear fusion. Used to produce hydrogen bombs just after WWII, it was seen from the first as an almost limitless source of energy. The Second United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy 50 years ago in September brought fusion research that had been conducted in secrecy into the open. 

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, American, British, and Soviet fusion programs were strictly classified until 1958, when most of their research programs were made public at the conference, which was held in Geneva. Since that time, fusion research has been characterized by international collaboration.

Some sessions at the conference, called, “Celebrating fifty years of fusion -- entering into the burning plasma era,” will explore the developmental issues at ITER (the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor). A field trip to ITER, in Cardache, France, is listed.

The Geneva Conference on 1-13 Sep 1958 included the subject of nuclear fusion for the first time. It drew 2135 papers, presented by 46 governments and six international organizations, and there were 2692 participants. Jul/08

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22nd IAEA Fusion Energy Conference web site
http://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/meetings/Announcements.asp?ConfID=165