Sigvard Arne Eklund

Sigvard Arne Eklund (19 June 1911 – 30 January 2000) was Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency from 1961 to 1981.

Early life Eklund was born on 19 June 1911 in Kiruna, Norrbotten County, Sweden, the son of Severin Eklund, a train driver, and his wife Vilhelmina (née Pettersson). Eklund obtained his Master of Science degree in 1936, a Licentiate of Philosophy (fil.lic.) degree in 1941 and a Doctor of Philosophy (fil.dr.) degree from Uppsala University in 1946.

In 1957, he was Secretary General for the Second International United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy. He was appointed as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1961. Eklund was reappointed four more times in 1965, 1969, 1974 and 1977, holding the post for twenty consecutive years until he retired and was named Director General Emeritus.

American Atoms for Peace Award (1968) Henry DeWolf Smyth Nuclear Statesman Award (NEI) (1976)

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (1953) Honorary doctor at Cracow University of Technology (1971) Honorary doctor in Moscow (1977) Honorary doctor in Buenos Aires (1977) Honorary doctor of technology in Budapest (1977) Honorary senator at the University of Vienna (1977) Honorary doctor of technology in Dresden (1978) Honorary doctor at the Yonsei University (1978) Honorary doctor at the National Agrarian University (1979) Honorary doctor at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology (1980)