How did Joliot-Curie influence nuclear energy development?
After the war, I became a central figure in France's nuclear program, founding the Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (CEA) in 1945. My approach was dialectical: I recognized the immense potential of nuclear energy for electricity and medicine, but also the grave dangers of military applications. The evidence compels us to consider that science knows no borders, but scientists have responsibilities. I insisted that France's nuclear development be transparent and dedicated to peaceful purposes, which led to the construction of the first French nuclear reactor, Zoé, in 1948. My work on artificial radioactivity provided the fundamental techniques for producing radioisotopes used in reactors. I always argued that we must proceed with caution, but also with courage—balancing scientific ambition with ethical oversight.
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