number of specialists.
Q — Does Lebanon possess the specialists to build and run a nuclear furnace? And how many persons does such a project require?
A — Today we have only two persons holding a doctor's degree in physics: Dr. Hassan Musharrafieh and myself — and each of us has had experience of work in some branch of atomic or nuclear physics — but neither of us has specialized in nuclear furnaces as such... There are, however, people in Beirut on whose knowledge and experience one can rely and draw — even if they are not Lebanese. We must also encourage the Lebanese students now in the universities of the West, specializing in physics or kindred fields, so that they will wish to return to their country and work in it and for it. For the nuclear furnace, whether for power or for anything else, requires some 75 persons — physicists, chemists, mathematicians, electrical engineers, skilled mechanics, machine-makers, and technicians — and to prepare this number as it should be prepared we need long time and great expense. Those who are to work at turning the products of the nuclear furnace to peaceful purposes must likewise be trained.
Q — And what exactly do you mean by "peaceful purposes"?
A — Nuclear furnaces yield radioactive isotopes as by-products, and these radioactive isotopes can be used in medicine for both ends: treatment and diagnosis. They have likewise been used in the field of agriculture: for research into fertilization, the killing of insects, and the improvement of breed (in animal and plant). In industry the radioactive isotopes have helped save millions of dollars — for example, the Tapline company used radioactive cobalt to verify the welding of its pipes, or for tracing (as traces).
Q — Since the nuclear furnace involves such heavy costs, is it necessary for Lebanon to have a furnace of its own?
A — No doubt one can profit from the countries that have preceded us in acquiring a nuclear furnace — modern aircraft are technically equipped to carry radioactive isotopes intact, and within ten or fifteen hours they can be deposited in the laboratories, as Dr. Kabir did at the American University. But there are two principal reasons why we must acquire an institution for research, whether a nuclear laboratory or another. First: it is time for Lebanon to resume its traditional role of giving the world of its produce in the fields of science. Has not this been, since the dawn of history, one of the justifications for our existence as a nation and for our continuing to live??
The other reason for the necessity of building a nuclear furnace of our own is that it would be a spur to our young men who specialize in the West, so that they return to pursue their research and studies in their own country and are not forced to emigrate for good and change their nationalities in order to be able to carry on research where the facilities exist — whereby we should have lost the flower of our sons!
Moreover, by building our own nuclear furnace we encourage our youth and spur their ambition to choose the fields of the atom as branches of specialization, in the hope of returning one day to their country, where this great atomic center would give them the way to show their gifts and capacities; and it would also fulfill the hopes some place in Lebanon as a vast source of power to be used in industry.
Q — What do you propose for setting this project in motion?
A — To carry out this project I propose the founding of a "National Council for Scientific Research," made up of persons of scientific competence — to be appointed directly by His Excellency the President of the Republic, deriving its authority from him and answerable to him. The annual budget of this council should be one percent of the general budget of the State, to be spent on the following:
1 — The sending of scientific missions, here or abroad, for specialization in the fields of science.
2 — Research projects.
3 — The administration and running of the research institute to be created along with the furnace.
And I must say that the building of the nuclear furnace alone will cost the government half a million dollars — and without this furnace we can in no way profit from the six kilograms of uranium, the gift of the American government!
Q — And when do you think this project will be accomplished!
A — The project of the nuclear furnace, and the training of technicians for it, requires no less than six years, if not ten! And it is wisdom to begin today laying the plans and directing some of our gifted students. If "power" is what we want, then in my opinion we must prepare the building of the institute and the men; then profit by the experience of others, such as America and Britain, by setting out to learn which nuclear furnaces suit us best economically, and adopting them.