Dan Mazilu to Present Nobel Prize Symposium Talk The professor of physics will discuss this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner on Friday, Nov. 15.

By Brian Laubscher
October 31, 2024

Dan Mazilu, professor of physics at Washington and Lee University, will hold a Nobel Prize Symposium discussion on the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyǒ, winner of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.

Mazilu’s talk will be held at noon on Friday, Nov. 15, in room 128 of the Harte Center for Teaching and Learning, located in Leyburn Library. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Nihon Hidankyǒ represents the survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Since its formation in 1956, the organization has fought for increased support for victims of the atomic bombings, brought light to the atrocities caused by nuclear weapons through witness interviews and lobbied for nuclear disarmament around the globe.

“It is an honor to reflect on the awarding of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyǒ, and this recognition holds a deep personal impact for me, both as an educator and a visitor to Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” said Mazilu. “As a professor currently teaching a nuclear physics course, I strive to go beyond the theoretical framework and emphasize the real-world implications of nuclear science – both its potential for energy and medicine and its capacity for destruction. Visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum brought these lessons into sharp focus, revealing the human stories behind the physics we study.”

In selecting Nihon Hidankyǒ for the 2024 Peace Prize, the Nobel Prize committee cited the organization’s contributions toward the significant development of an international “nuclear taboo,” which stigmatizes “the use of nuclear weapons as morally unacceptable.”

“The indelible image of the Atomic Dome – an enduring symbol of the devastation wrought by nuclear weapons – and the survivors’ testimonies underscore the need for nuclear disarmament,” said Mazilu. “This year’s Nobel Peace Prize honors the work of Nihon Hidankyǒ’s work in preserving these memories, amplifying the survivors’ voices and advocating for a world free from the threat of nuclear warfare. It also reminds us, as scientists and educators, of our responsibility to advocate for a safer world.”

Learn more about all of the 2024 Nobel Prize winners.