Conference Chairmen

Edward Haskell     Nobusige Sawada     Lord Adrian

Robert S. Mulliken     Sir John Eccles     Eugene P. Wigner

Morton A. Kaplan     Kenneth Mellanby     Alvin M. Weinberg

Tor Ragnar Gerholm

The International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences arose from the commitment of the Reverend Sun Myung Moon to create an integrated worldview which can serve as the basis for a peaceful, harmonious future. Such a worldview can provide order to human knowledge and a resolution of conflicting values premises.

Hence, the two enduring themes of ICUS – Unity of Knowledge and Science and Values—have been raised as a challenge to stimulate the creativity of the world’s scientists and scholars.

Starting in 1972 with 20 participants, ICUS year by year expanded its scope as it deepened its relationship with the worldwide academic community. This growing phase culminated with the historic Tenth ICUS, which convened 808 participants from over 100 countries in Seoul, Korea in 1981. By this time ICUS had gained recognition from the world academic community as being truly unique as an interdisciplinary, international gathering of scholars and scientists addressing issues of fundamental concern to humanity.

A worldwide network of cooperating scholars was been established and, together with ICUS, several other ICF programs like the Professors World Peace Academy helped to sustain the network for many years. The last ICUS was held in the year 2000.

Conference Chronology

Edward Haskell
Chairman, Council for Unified Research and Education, New York

  • ICUS I (1972), Moral Orientation of the Sciences
    20 participants from 8 nations

Nobusige Sawada
President, Japanese Association of Philosophy of Science,Tokyo

  • ICUS II (1973), Modern Science and Moral Values
    60 participants from 17 nations

Lord Adrian
Professor of Physiology, Nobel Laureate

Robert S. Mulliken
Distinguished Research Professor of Chemical Physics, Nobel Laureate

  • ICUS IV (1975), The Centrality of Science and Absolute Values
    340 participants from 57 nations

Sir John Eccles
Distinguished Professor of Physiology and Biophysics, Nobel Laureate

  • ICUS V (1976), The Search for Absolute Values: Harmony Among the Sciences
    360 participants from 53 nations
  • ICUS VI (1977), The Search for Absolute Values in a Changing World
    400 participants from 50 nations

Eugene P. Wigner
Professor of Physics Emeritus, Nobel Laureate

  • ICUS VII (1978), The Re-evaluation of Existing Values and the Search for Absolute Values
    450 participants from 60 nations
  • ICUS VIII (1979), The Responsibility of the Academic Community in the Search for Absolute Values
    485 participants from 67 nations
  • ICUS XII (1983) Absolute Valuesand the New Cultural Revolution
    300 participants from 80 nations

Morton A. Kaplan
Professor of Political Science, University of Chicago

  • ICUS IX (1980), Absolute Values and the Search for the Peace of Mankind
    600 participants from 80 nations
  • ICUS X (1981), The Search for Absolute Values and the Creation of the New World
    808 participants from 100 nations
  • ICUS XI (1982), The Search for Absolute Values and the Creation of the New World
    525 participants from 100 nations
  • ICUS XII (1983) Absolute Values and the New Cultural Revolution
    300 participants from 80 nations

Kenneth Mellanby
Director Emeritus, Monk’s Wood Experimental Station, England

  • ICUS XIII (1984) Absolute Values and the New Cultural Revolution
    225 participants from 40 nations
  • ICUS XIV (1985) Absolute Values and the New Cultural Revolution
    240 participants from 40 nations
  • ICUS XV (1986) Absolute Values and the New Cultural Revolution
    240 participants from 45 nations

Alvin M. Weinberg
Distinguished Fellow, Institute for Energy Analysis, Tennessee

  • ICUS XVI (1987) Absolute Values and the Reassessment of the Contemporary World
    225 participants from 47 nations
  • ICUS XVII (1988) Absolute Values and the Reassessment of the Contemporary World
    260 participants from 47 nations
  • ICUS XVIII (1991) Absolute Values and the Reassessment of the Contemporary World
    210 participants from 40 nations

Tor Ragnar Gerholm
Professor of Physics Emeritus, University of Stockholm

  • ICUS XIX (1992) Absolute Values and the New World Order
    200 participants from 40 nations
  • ICUS XX (1995) Absolute Values and the Unity of the Sciences: The Origin and Human Responsibility
    150 participants from 35 nations
  • ICUS XXI (1997) Searching for Absolute Values and Unity in the Sciences: Science for the Benefit of Humanity
    150 participants from 40 nations
  • ICUS XXII (2000) Searching for Absolute Values and Unity in the Sciences: Science for the Benefit of Humanity
    150 participants from 35 nations