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1959
• The Advisory Council met in New York in 1959 which resulted in two actions that were to change AFASE
over the coming four years.
• Responsibilities of the Council in AFASE were defined.
• AFASE organization would transform into a Society with a Board of Directors and Officers elected by its
members.

Table 2: Officers of AFASE (1950-1959)

Secretary or
Year President Vice President Secretary / Executive Officer or Asst
Treasurer
Treasurer
1955 H. Sargent W. R. Bimson F. L. Snell
1956 J. Oostermeier W. T. Lucking J. I. Yellott
1957 J. Oostermeier W. T. Lucking J. I. Yellott

J. I. Yellott
1958 J. Oostermeier W. T. Lucking (to 6/58)
E. L. McLean (6/58)
W. T. Lucking
1959 J. Oostermeier F. L. Snell (Sec) E. L. McLean
H. Sargent

Table 3: Conferences and Meetings (1955-1959)
Year Location Overview

Tucson Conference on the Use of Solar Energy
1955
USA Approx. 500 registrants, 93 papers
Phoenix World Symposium on Applied Solar Energy,
1955
USA 900 registrants Sun at Work Exhibition: 29,000 visitors
Phoenix Solar Furnace Symposium
1957
USA Approx. 200 registrants, 15 papers.
First Meeting of AFASE Advisory Council
New York
1959 Sponsors: AFASE, SRI and New York University
USA
Approx. 130 in attendance
5.2 PV 1950-1959

The decade where the modern solar photovoltaic (PV) cell is developed and by the end of the decade they are
being used to power satellites.

1951
• The first germanium solar cells are made.

1953
• Gerald Pearson begins research into lithium-silicon photovoltaic cells at Bell Labs.
• Daryl Chapin is working at Bell Labs looking solutions for providing intermittent power to remote sites and
is provided the 2.3% efficient silicon photovoltaic cell by Pearson.
• Dan Trivich of Wayne State University made some theoretical calculations on solar cell efficiency with
different materials, and on solar spectrum wavelengths.

1954
• On April 25 Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson developed the silicon photovoltaic (PV) cell
th
at Bell Labs. The solar cell had a 4% efficiency which is increased to 6% within a few months.
• Radio Corporation of America (RCA) Laboratories published a report on CdS photovoltaic effect.

22 | ISES SWC50 - The Century of Solar-Stories and Visions