International cooperation in science

MAY 01, 1956

The success of the Geneva Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy was in large part a result of the untiring efforts of the author, who led the way in its early planning. His account of the Conference was presented at the 25th Anniversary Banquet of the American Institute of Physics in New York City on February 1, 1956. Dr. Rabi is professor of physics at Columbia University.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3059961

I. I. Rabi

Science, since it is an objective inquiry (rather, at least, as objective as human beings can be) into the nature of the universe, and of man and his place in the universe, is therefore universal in its appeal. I do not mean that everybody loves to study science. Unfortunately, this is very far from the case, but in every land irrespective of color, creed, and tradition there are people with the capacity and interest to join in this inquiry. Perhaps adventure would be a better word for it. The appeal of science lies very deep in men, because it expresses fundamentally the desire to explore, to understand, to know how things hang together, to get behind the superficial evidence of the senses, and, not least, to utilize this knowledge for human purpose.

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More about the authors

I. I. Rabi, Columbia University.