Professor Joseph Rotblat

Professor Rotblat (1908-2005) was a nuclear physicist who realised the danger of nuclear war. Born in Poland, he moved to Liverpool University in 1939, then to Los Alamos to work on the Manhattan Project to develop the nuclear bomb. He became the only physicist to resign from the Project for reasons of conscience. He then worked on beneficial uses of nuclear physics in medicine, encouraged his fellow scientists to consider the social impact of their research, and campaigned for nuclear disarmament. He was Secretary-General and later President of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, which brought together scientists and public figures to work towards disarmament. In 1995 Professor Rotblat and Pugwash were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for their efforts to diminish the part played by nuclear arms in international politics".

He had many links with the University of Bradford, including the award of Honorary Doctor of Science in 1973 and involvement with the PeaceJam international education programme.

The Books

After Professor Rotblat's death, his Pugwash colleagues offered Bradford his library of books and other publications on science and social responsibility. Works include his own writings and Pugwash publications, plus a huge range of other books, pamphlets, journals on the topics that concerned him. The Collection forms a major resource for study of the development of nuclear science, disarmament, modern wars and international crises, scientists and social responsibility. Cataloguing of this huge collection is in progress.

Professor Rotblat's vast archive is held by the Churchill Archives Centre.