The Hungarian Nuclear Society Celebrated its 20th Birthday

The Hungarian Nuclear Society (HNS) was founded more than 20 years ago, on May 29, 1989. It is better late than never to celebrate this significant anniversary – that was the opinion of the current HNS Chairman, Ellöd Hollo, when the agenda for the General Assembly (GA) meeting was being prepared. Consequently, the GA that took place on May 19 2011 was devoted to recalling the main events that have marked the history of the Society.

Professor Zoltan Szatmary, the first Chairman of the Society gave a presentation on the early years. The HNS was founded by private individuals in order to facilitate and promote the peaceful use of the atomic energy in Hungary. Over the years the Society has operated as an independent non-profit-making organisation that brings together people from regulatory bodies, utilities, educational establishments, research centres and design organisations.

Prof. Zoltan Szatmary

Among the outstanding moments that have signposted the Society’s history was the visit of the famous Hungarian nuclear physicist, Edward Teller, to Hungary, several years after he had emigrated. Edward Teller, together with other well-known Hungarian scientists like Leo Szilárd and Eugene Wigner, won many distinctions in the field of nuclear reactor development in US during the mid-1990s.

Portrait of Edward Teller

During the course of its history the Society has had 6 Chairmen who have coordinated its activities. All 6 were present at the GA meeting and contributed to the review that was made of the Society’s achievements since it was founded. The conclusion that was reached was that once the positive and negative factors influencing the future of nuclear reactors are taken into account, the role of such independent civil organisations as the Hungarian Nuclear Society will be upgraded.