Conference Chairmen
Edward Haskell Nobusige Sawada Lord Adrian
Robert S. Mulliken Sir John Eccles Eugene P. Wigner
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
- ICUS III (1974), Science and Absolute Values
128 participants from 28 nations
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