Suchergebnisse

Abstract
Produced and distributed at subsidized prices by national nuclear establishments, radioisotopes provided the earliest non-military application of nuclear energy. Starting in the late 1940s, thanks to their multiple uses in medicine and research, they were ubiquitous in conceptions for peaceful nuclear programs. In the 1950s, Atoms for Peace initiatives encouraged nuclear establishments to develop industrial applications of radioisotopes, stressing the economic benefits of their use. However, the spread of radioisotopes in industry turned out to be more problematic than envisaged, as it had to confront an increasing awareness of radiation risks. In this sense, the main effect of Atoms for Peace seems to have been the establishment of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as the major actor in dealing with isotopes and their commercial distribution.

This report is structured in three sections. In the first section, we present a general historical background narrative about the antecedents of radioisotope-related R&D before the Second World War and of the post-war developments leading to the establishment of a radioisotope industry. In this narrative, the focus will be on American developments, as the United States constitutes the most important player in the production of and the research with these materials. Indeed, these have been the developments that have received most attention in the historical literature. The following section focuses on the history of European radioisotope industries. This part is the more innovative part of this report, as the history of European radioisotopes has never been studied comprehensively. We will approach this analysis from a comparative point of view, which will focus on four different countries: the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain. The choice of these countries is mainly based on the availability of historical secondary sources. In any case, these countries represent a good combination of major players of the radioisotope market (France and the UK), an important nation in the industrial uses of radioisotopes (Germany), which is at the same time politically interesting because of its Cold-War related political division, and finally a scientifically and politically "peripheral" actor (Spain), that can help to contrast with democratic countries. Unfortunately, we will leave out of our study some countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium, which became major players in the radioisotope market, as well as the Soviet Union/Russia and all East European bloc. In each case, a description of main events in the development of radioisotope production and use is provided, as well as an analysis of the public perception based on the analysis of the press coverage of radioisotopes.This study is supplemented by an account of IAEA efforts in radioisotope research which can help to discuss transnational developments. ...

This report is structured in three sections. In the first section, we present a general historical background narrative about the antecedents of radioisotope-related R&D before the Second World War and of the post-war developments leading to the establishment of a radioisotope industry. In this narrative, the focus will be on American developments, as the United States constitutes the most important player in the production of and the research with these materials. Indeed, these have been the developments that have received most attention in the historical literature. The following section focuses on the history of European radioisotope industries. This part is the more innovative part of this report, as the history of European radioisotopes has never been studied comprehensively. We will approach this analysis from a comparative point of view, which will focus on four different countries: the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain. The choice of these countries is mainly based on the availability of historical secondary sources. In any case, these countries represent a good combination of major players of the radioisotope market (France and the UK), an important nation in the industrial uses of radioisotopes (Germany), which is at the same time politically interesting because of its Cold-War related political division, and finally a scientifically and politically "peripheral" actor (Spain), that can help to contrast with democratic countries. Unfortunately, we will leave out of our study some countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium, which became major players in the radioisotope market, as well as the Soviet Union/Russia and all East European bloc. In each case, a description of main events in the development of radioisotope production and use is provided, as well as an analysis of the public perception based on the analysis of the press coverage of radioisotopes.This study is supplemented by an account of IAEA efforts in radioisotope research which can help to discuss transnational developments. ...

National audience ; The TEUS project explored, in a transnational perspective, the technical, political, economic and social dynamics that shaped the geosciences during the Cold War. In this article, we discuss the main historiographical issues of the project, its major results, and their contribution to the analysis of the co-construction of science and international relations. ; Le projet TEUS a exploré, dans une perspective transnationale, les dynamiques techniques, politiques, économiques et sociales qui ont façonné les géosciences pendant la Guerre froide. Dans cet article, nous discutons les enjeux historiographiques du projet, les principaux résultats obtenus et ses apports pour l'analyse des imbrications entre les sciences et les relations internationales.

National audience ; The TEUS project explored, in a transnational perspective, the technical, political, economic and social dynamics that shaped the geosciences during the Cold War. In this article, we discuss the main historiographical issues of the project, its major results, and their contribution to the analysis of the co-construction of science and international relations. ; Le projet TEUS a exploré, dans une perspective transnationale, les dynamiques techniques, politiques, économiques et sociales qui ont façonné les géosciences pendant la Guerre froide. Dans cet article, nous discutons les enjeux historiographiques du projet, les principaux résultats obtenus et ses apports pour l'analyse des imbrications entre les sciences et les relations internationales.

Le projet TEUS a exploré, dans une perspective transnationale, les dynamiques techniques, politiques, économiques et sociales qui ont façonné les géosciences pendant la Guerre froide. Dans cet article, nous discutons les enjeux historiographiques du projet, les principaux résultats obtenus et ses apports pour l'analyse des imbrications entre les sciences et les relations internationales.

This article analyses the establishment of the first computer science university degrees in Catalonia in 1976 in a context of political transition to democracy in Spain. Based on an oral history project and the examination of the school's archives, the authors show that the development of Barcelona' School of Informatics was the result of policymaking a powerful association of informatics technicians that pushed the government and academy for formal studies inside the university. ; Peer Reviewed ; Postprint (published version)

This article analyses the establishment of the first computer science university degrees in Catalonia in 1976 in a context of political transition to democracy in Spain. Based on an oral history project and the examination of the school's archives, the authors show that the development of Barcelona' School of Informatics was the result of policymaking a powerful association of informatics technicians that pushed the government and academy for formal studies inside the university. ; Peer Reviewed ; Postprint (published version)