1st WCNDT: Brussels, Belgium, May 23-28, 1955

The First International Conference on NDT was held in Brussels, Belgium during 23 to 28 May 1955 under the Chairmanship of Prof. Georges Homes. This conference was a great success and about 200 participants from all over the world attended the conference.

In addition to providing a forum for those engaged in NDT around the world, it also endeavored to improve communications in NDT. At the completion of this conference, a resolution was unanimously adopted, the first point of which reads "The members of the Conference consider that international cooperation in the the field of NDT of material is highly desirable". It was with a deep feeling of gratitude and appreciation for all those members aid supporters of the NDT profession who contributed to the preparations of this conference that the contents and the meaning of this phase of the resolution carried beyond expectations.

The second international conference on NDT was held during November 3-8 1957 at Los Alamos, New Mexico, immediately two and half years after the first international conference. This conference was held in co-operation with second world metallurgical congress and 39th Annual national metals congress and was sponsored by the American Society for metals. The administrative chairman Dr. Gerald H. Tenney during his introductory remarks said "We are welcoming cordially the delegates from near and far hope that their efforts have not been made in vain. Would it not be for the distances, time and financial considerations, the participation would be tremendous because the NDT profession has grown and matured during the last few years as can be confirmed by all those who have been participating in its various national and international activities. Let us keep in mind that those not here today are also interested in the deliberations of this conference and are also desirously waiting for its results".

There were over 100 foreign delegates and 30 panel moderators for this conference. There were three sessions with each comprising of two or three keynote papers and few invited papers. Session 1 was on the subject of "'The basis for optimum test methods selection". while for session 2 "The relative advantages and limitations of NDT methods" formed the theme, "Recommendations for technical development and standardization" was the theme for session 3.

The third international conference on NDT was held during March 16-21, 1960 in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. The conference was well attended by delegates from over 21 countries. The conference had three main themes namely; keynote/plenary talks; principal sessions and technical sessions. The keynote/plenary talks were delivered by the following:

Wm. E.Havercroft, Canada       Dr. I.Malecki,  Poland
Dr. P.G.Bastien, France           Dr.  M.  demiro,  Spain
Dr. M.Komers, Germany           Dr. H.Swedenborf, Sweden
Dr. C.Vraga, Hungary               Dr. L.Mullins, UK
Dr. V.G.Pillay, India                Dr. C.H.Hastings, USA
Dr. C.Moravia, Italy                 Dr. S.T. Nazarov, USSR
Dr. U.Hashimoto, Japan

Special sessions or tutorials were held on the following aspects: (1) Relation between results of NDT of materials and their mechanical strength, (2) Calibration and standard test methods of various types of apparatus and materials for NDT, (3) NDT of material in relation to their quality, and (4) NDT in shipbuilding as applied structure and power equipment

The 10th WCNDT took place in Moscow during August 23-27, 1982. The focal theme of the conference was "The state of Fundamental and Applied NDT problems". For the first time in the history of world conferences, 1228 delegates from 31 countries participated in this conference and about 310 technical papers were presented.