Philip_Abelson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Philip Abelson Philip Abelson Philip Abelson Philip Abelson Born Died Nationality Fields Alma mater April 27, 1913 Tacoma, Washington August 1, 2004 American physics Washington State University University of California, Berkeley Philip Hauge Abelson (April 27, 1913 – August 1, 2004) was an American physicist, editor of scientific literature, and science writer. Philip Abelson was born in 1913 in Tacoma, Washington. He attended Washington State University where he received degrees in Chemistry and Physics, and the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Ph. D. in Nuclear Physics. As a young physicist, he worked for Ernest Lawrence at the University of California, Berkeley. He was among the first American scientists to verify Nuclear Fission in an article submitted to the Physical Review in February 1939 [1]. In addition, he collaborated with Nobel Prize winner Luis Alvarez in early nuclear research, and was the co-discoverer of the element neptunium on June 8, 1940 (with Edwin McMillan, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for the discovery). He was a key contributor to the Manhattan Project during World War II. Although Abelson was not formally associated with the atom bomb project, the Liquid Thermal Diffusion isotope separation technique that he invented was used in the S-50 plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and proved a critical step in creating sufficient fuel for the weapon. After the war, he turned his attention under the guidance of Ross Gunn to applying nuclear power to naval propulsion. While not written at an engineering-design level, he wrote the first physics report detailing how a nuclear reactor could be installed in a submarine, providing both propulsion and electrical power. His report anticipated the nuclear submarine’s role as a missile platform. This concept was later supported by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover and others. Under Rickover’s relentless leadership, concept became reality in the form of USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine. From 1951 until 1971 he served as the director of the Carnegie Institution of Washington’s Geophysical Laboratory, and served as president of the Institution from 1971 to 1978. From 1962 to 1984 he was editor of Science magazine, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and served as its acting Executive Officer in 1974, 1975 and 1984. From 1972 until 1974 he served as President of the American Geophysical Union (AGU). Abelson was outspoken and well-known for his opinions on science. In a 1964 editorial published in Science magazine, Abelson identified overspecialization in science as a form of bigotry. He outlined his view that the pressure towards specialization beginning in undergraduate study and intensifying in Ph.D. programs has the effect on students of leading them to believe that their area of specialization is the most important, even to the 1 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia extreme of considering other intellectual pursuits to be worthless. He reasoned that such overspecialization led to obsolesence of one’s work, often through a focus on trivial aspects of a field, and that avoidance of such bigotry was essential to guiding the direction of one’s work. [1] Perhaps his most famous work from this time period is an editorial entitled "Enough of Pessimism" ("enough of pessimism, it only leads to paralysis and decay"). This became the title of a 100 essay collection. Philip H. Abelson (1985). Enough of Pessimism. Washington, D.C.: American Association for the Advancement of Science. ISBN 0871682745. During the 1970s he became interested in the problem of world energy supplies. Books on the topic include "Energy for Tomorrow" (1975), from a series of lectures at the University of Washington, and "Energy II: Use Conservation and Supply". He pointed out the possibilities of mining the Atabascan tar sands, as well as oil shale in the Colorado Rockies. In addition he urged conservation and a change of attitude towards public transit. Philip H. Abelson (1975). Energy For Tomorrow. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN 0295954132. . After 1984, he remained associated with the magazine. Some have claimed him to be an early skeptic of the case for global warming on the basis of a lead editorial in the magazine dated March 31, 1990 in which he wrote, "[I]f the global warming situation is analyzed applying the customary standards of scientific inquiry one must conclude that there has been more hype than solid fact." However, in 1977 in the foreword for a US National Research Council, Energy and Environment report he wrote, "What should the atmospheric carbon dioxide content be over the next century or two to achieve an optimum global climate?" [2], implying a level of connection between CO2 and climate that would put him outside today’s skeptic camp. Dr. Abelson received many distinguished awards, including The President’s National Medal of Science, the National Science Foundation’s Distinguished Achievement Award, the American Medical Association’s Scientific Achievement Award, the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal and the Waldo E. Smith Medal in 1988. In 1992 he was awarded the Public Welfare Medal, the National Academy of Science’s highest honor. Philip Abelson Dr. Abelson’s wife Neva Abelson (1910-2000) was a distinguished research physician who co-discovered the life-saving Rh blood factor test (with L.K. Diamond). Their daughter, Dr. Ellen Abelson Cherniavsky, now retired, worked as an aviation researcher at The MITRE Corporation in Virginia. Philip Abelson died on August 1, 2004 from respiratory complications following a brief illness. See also • Nuclear marine propulsion • Submarine-launched ballistic missile External links • History of the UNFCCC, demonstrating that in 1977 Abelson believed in a CO2-climate link • Encyclopaedia Britannica, Philip Abelson • Annotated bibliography for Philip Abelson from the Alsos Digital Library for Nuclear Issues • "Cleavage of the Uranium Nucleus", Physical Review, Received February 3, 1939 References [1] Philip H. Abelson, "Bigotry in Science", Science, Vol. 144, No. 3617 (1964). • Kennedy, Donald (2004), "In memoriam. Philip Hauge Abelson, 1913-2004.", Science 305 (5685): 765, 2004 Aug 6, doi:10.1126/science.305.5685.765, PMID 15297640, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/15297640 • "The International Society of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology International Achievement Award.", Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 21 (2): 325, 1995, 1995 Apr, doi:10.1006/rtph.1995.1046, PMID 7644722, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 7644722 • Abelson (1994), "Need for Enhanced Nuclear Safeguards.", Science 263 (5153): 1543, 1994 Mar 18, doi:10.1126/ science.263.5153.1543, PMID 17744766, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 17744766 • Abelson (1988), "Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuels in Nevada.", Science 239 (4838): 2 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 333, 1988 Jan 22, doi:10.1126/ science.239.4838.333, PMID 17836854, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 17836854 • Abelson (1982), "Efforts to Decrease Nuclear Tensions.", Science 218 (4571): 427, 1982 Oct 29, doi:10.1126/ science.218.4571.427, PMID 17808527, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 17808527 • Abelson (1976), "Glamorous Nuclear Fusion.", Science 193 (4250): 279, 1976 Jul 23, doi:10.1126/science.193.4250.279, PMID 17745713, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 17745713 • Abelson (1976), "A Global Rush Toward Nuclear Energy.", Science 191 (4230): 901, 1976 Mar 5, doi:10.1126/ science.191.4230.901, PMID 17792689, Philip Abelson http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 17792689 • Abelson (1968), "Nuclear Power--Rosy Optimism and Harsh Reality.", Science 161 (3837): 113, 1968 Jul 12, doi:10.1126/ science.161.3837.113, PMID 17770587, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 17770587 • Abelson (May 1966), "Factors Favoring Nuclear Power.", Science (New York, N.Y.) 152 (3723): 703, 1966 May 6, doi:10.1126/science.152.3723.703, PMID 17797430, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/17797430 • Abelson (1964), "Conventional versus Nuclear Power.", Science 146 (3645): 719, 1964 Nov 6, doi:10.1126/ science.146.3645.719, PMID 17729992, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 17729992 Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Abelson" Categories: American physicists, Manhattan Project people, Discoverers of chemical elements, National Medal of Science laureates, Kalinga Prize recipients, Deaths from respiratory failure, Norwegian-Americans, 1913 births, 2004 deaths This page was last modified on 19 April 2009, at 00:24 (UTC). 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