A Nobel Peace Prize winner will speak today on peaceful uses for nuclear energy and controlling development of nuclear weapons.

The lecture, sponsored by the University’s Center for International Trade and Security, comes at a time when the expansion of nuclear development is becoming more common.

Mohamed ElBaradei, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, won the Peace Prize in 2005 with IAEA for promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

ElBaradei was asked to speak at the lecture because of his accomplishments in nuclear energy and his expertise in the matter, said Gary Bertsch, director of CITS.

“We have invited him to campus for two reasons: to be the primary speaker and guest at the 20th anniversary of our Center for International Trade and Security, and then secondly we’re going to give him the University of Georgia Delta prize for Global Understanding,” Bertsch said in a phone interview Tuesday.

Former winners of the Delta Prize for Global Understanding include Nelson Mandela, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and the Carter Center and Mikhail Gorbachev, according to the Delta Prize Web site.

Bertsch said ElBaradei and the IAEA have largely contributed to controlling the spread of nuclear weapons and have successfully provided nuclear energy access to countries in need.

Because of his outstanding work, [ElBaradei] and the IAEA were given the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. [ElBaradei] was instrumental in his role in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy,” Bertsch said.

Attempts to contact IAEA representatives were unsuccessful Tuesday afternoon.

After the lecture given by ElBaradei, CITS will host a second lecture featuring a panel of people prominent in the field of nuclear energy work. One speaker will be University alumnus and four-star general Eugene Habiger.

Habiger, who has more than 35 years of experience in national security and nuclear operations, is the former Commander in Chief of Strategic Command responsible for all U.S. Air Force and Navy nuclear forces, according to the Nuclear Threat Institute Web site.

“[Habiger] speaks with high level government and international leaders on how we can deal with nuclear threats, such as nuclear terrorism and the spread of nuclear materials,” Bertsch said.

The second lecture will also feature a man Bertsch describes as the rock star of nuclear proliferation – Joseph Cirincione.

“He’s on television all the time, and he’s now a part of what is called the Ploughshares Fund. They are giving millions of dollars to promote a safer, saner nuclear world,” Bertsch said. Cirincione is the president of Ploughshares Fund, a grant-making foundation that funds the containment of nuclear weapons.

“He’s probably the most articulate and interesting speaker in the world that is speaking truth to power. He’s been working on these issues for about 25 years and speaks with great understanding and meaning.”

Bertsch said a greater understanding of nuclear energy is important in today’s environment.

“What’s going on in the world today is sometimes called the ‘nuclear renaissance,’” said Bertsch. “Because of the lack of fossil fuels, more people are building nuclear plants.”

Bertsch said the expansion of nuclear plants could lead to the development of more nuclear weapons, which could lead to nuclear warfare and terrorism. He said it was important to handle nuclear energy correctly and gain a better understanding of its uses.

Both lectures will be hosted in the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. ElBaradei will speak at 10 a.m. and the second lecture will take place at 2 p.m.

Bertsch said the events are a unique opportunity for University students.

“It’s wonderful that these two panels are completely open to students, and to have an opportunity to see someone that is interviewed in global newspapers almost everyday.”