History of the International Union for Vacuum Science, Technique, and Applications

The 30th anniversary of the International Union for Vacuum Science, Technique, and Applications (IUVSTA) will be celebrated during its 1986–1989 triennium. The Union had its beginning on 13 June 1958 in Namur, Belgium, at the First International Congress on Vacuum Technology. This meeting, organized under the leadership of Émile Thomas, was the first large international meeting of vacuists with over 500 participants from 26 countries. The meeting met with much enthusiasm and Medard W. Welch suggested the creation of an international committee to organize future such congresses in different countries. This led to the formation of the International Organization for Vacuum Science and Technology (IOVST) with Professor Thomas serving as President. At that time only three or four countries had their own national vacuum society, and consequently the IOVST was able to attract individuals and corporate members from many countries that had no other platform for the exchange of information on vacuum science. The IOVST was successful in encouraging the creation of additional national vacuum societies. On 8 December 1962 the IOVST revised its statutes to exclude private membership and became an international confederation of national vacuum organizations with ten founder members and changed its name to the International Union for Vacuum Science, Technique, and Applications. The Union maintained the legal status which had been granted to the IOVST under Belgian laws and continued to maintain its Secretariat in Brussels. This paper describes the organizational structure of the IUVSTA and the development of its scientific divisions. Historical background is given for a number of the Union’s activities including the Welch International Scholarship, News Bulletin, Visual Aids Project, and International Vacuum Congresses. A more detailed history of the IUVSTA by the author is available from the Union’s Secretary General.