A half century's accomplishments in using nuclear and isotopic techniques to enhance the scientific understanding of oceanic processes, marine ecosystems and pollution impact was celebrated on 29 September 2011 in Monaco.
Hosted by the Oceanographic Museum of the Principality of Monaco, the IAEA Environment Laboratories held the commemorative event at the Museum to mark this golden anniversary. At the gathering, IAEA Director General, Mr. Yukiya Amano, His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II, and Director of the Oceanographic Museum, Robert Calcagno, addressed the participants.
In thanking the Principality of Monaco "for being an excellent partner for the IAEA since 1961", Director General Amano expressed his special gratitude to Prince Albert II for his "unwavering support for the work of the laboratories" and for his "strong personal interest in our work".
The work performed by the laboratories, the Director General noted, is "vital to help protect the world's greatest natural resource - our oceans and seas". In the past fifty years, the Agency has trained "hundreds of scientists from all over the world in advanced methods for assessing marine radioactivity and pollution".
On a personal note, the Director General thanked the Principality for dispatching a specialist search and rescue team from the Fire Brigade to help Japan in the immediate aftermath of the March earthquake and tsunami.
On Friday, 30 September 2011, the dignitaries attending the commemorative event will tour the IAEA Environment Laboratories' Training Centre, Radiometrics Laboratory, the Radioecology Laboratory and Marine Environmental Studies Laboratory.