From Energy To Medicine, UN Forum Discusses Innovative Uses Of Nuclear Physics
From meeting burgeoning energy needs through innovative technologies to boosting cancer treatment in developing
countries, nuclear physics and the United Nations atomic energy agency have a key role to play on the road to
sustainable development, an international scientific forum was told today.
“Even the most conservative estimates predict at least a doubling of energy usage by mid-century,” International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei told the opening session of 8th Scientific Forum being held in
Vienna within the framework of the IAEA’s annual General Conference.
“Coupled with concerns related to the risk of climate change and the security of energy supply, this anticipated growth
is creating a sense of rising expectations for nuclear power,” he said, stressing the need for innovation ranging from
advanced fuel cycles using fissile and fertile materials more efficiently to contributing to “energy currencies” other
than electricity, such as hydrogen, desalination and heating.
Noting that lack of energy restricts every aspect of development in developing countries, from increasing food
production to improving health care, he again cited the role of innovation, such as regional collaboration to address
the issues of upfront capital costs, infrastructure, workforce needs and electrical grid capacity.
Turning to nuclear technology for health care, Mr. ElBaradei noted that fully two-thirds of global radiotherapy
equipment, offering curative or palliative benefits for over 50 per cent of cancer patients, serve the 1 billion people
living in industrialized countries, while the remaining one-third is stretched among the world’s remaining 5.5 billion.
“The Agency´s Programme of Action for Cancer Radiotherapy (PACT) is designed to increase our capacity to assist
developing Member States, by mobilizing more resources to address personnel, infrastructure, technology and training
needs,” he said.
Stressing that nuclear power must be both “economically viable and unequivocally safe” in order for nuclear power to
have a future, he called for a focused commitment to ensure that lessons learned in one country are effectively and
thoroughly communicated to all countries.
“The Scientific Forum is an opportunity to share new ideas, to learn from each other and to forge new collaboration,” he
concluded.