Distinguished Lecture by IAEA Deputy Director General Najat Mokhtar
Building E51, 70 MEMORIAL DR, Cambridge, MA
Breaking Barriers: Harnessing the Potential of the Atom Lecture by IAEA DDG Najat Mokhtar Abstract Seventy years ago, in his landmark Atoms for Peace address, President Eisenhower articulated a revolutionary vision: that nuclear science should transcend its military origins to become a force for human progress—to advance health, strengthen food security, and foster global prosperity. Seven decades later, that vision remains as compelling as ever. Yet despite the extraordinary contributions of nuclear science to modern society, public perception continues to be shaped by misconceptions that often obscure its profound humanitarian and technological impact. Today, nuclear science underpins innovations across a wide range of disciplines. In medicine, radiation-based diagnostics and radiotherapy have become indispensable tools in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, improving and saving millions of lives each year. In agriculture, nuclear techniques enhance food security by controlling destructive pests, improving soil and water management, and accelerating the development of climate-resilient crop varieties. Isotope hydrology enables the sustainable assessment and…