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2.THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL
CONGRESS ON VACUUM
TECHNOLOGY
A Belgian group, “Vacuum Techniques Section”
formed in 1954 within the framework of the
Research Committee of the Société Royale Belge
des Ingénieurs et des Industriels, also gave serious
thought, in 1956, to holding an international
vacuum congress.
They appointed a Congress Organising
Committee to study the matter further
under the leadership of Emile Thomas,
Director of the Centre for Nuclear Sciences
at the Royal Military School. In January
1957, this Committee conceived the idea
of holding the First International Congress
on Vacuum Technology on 10-13 June
in Namur, Belgium, in connection with
the 1958 Brussels World Fair. The official
languages of the Congress were to be
French, English and German and Congress
proceedings were to be published. The
necessary funds to get the Congress
underway were to be supplied by
Belgian, Luxembourg and Swiss industrial
organisations. These plans were reviewed
inside and outside Belgium and, with the
cooperation of several scientific societies, it
was agreed to proceed with the Congress.
Mariano ANDERLE with
Cameca IMS3f - August 1986