Dudley R. Herschbach
Dudley Robert Herschbach (born
June 18,
1932), a
chemist and Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at
Harvard University, won the
1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly with
Yuan T. Lee and
John C. Polanyi "for their contributions concerning the dynamics of chemical elementary processes."
Herschbach and Lee specifically worked with molecular beams, performing so-called "crossed molecular beam" experiments that enabled a detailed molecular-level understanding of many elementary reaction processes. Herschbach's research has ranged broadly over the field of chemical physics, including much theoretical work in dimensional scaling.
Hershbach's teaching ranges from graduate seminars on chemical kinetics to an introductory undergraduate course in general chemistry that he taught for many years at Harvard and described as his "most challenging assignment."
Herschbach has been a strong proponent of science education and science among the general public, and frequently gives lectures to students of all ages, imbuing them with his infectious enthusiasm for science and his playful spirit of discovery
Herschbach was born in
San Jose, California. After graduating from
Campbell High School, Herschbach received a
B.S. in mathematics in 1954 and an
M.S. in chemistry in 1955 from
Stanford University, and an
A.M. in physics in 1956 and a
Ph.D. in chemical physics in 1958 from
Harvard University under the direction of
Edgar Bright Wilson. His recent work includes a collaboration with
Steven Brams studying
approval voting.
Herschbach has also lent his voice to
The Simpsons for the episode
Treehouse of Horror XIV where he is seen presenting the
Nobel Prize in Physics to
Professor Frink.
He joined the
Texas A&M University faculty on September 1, 2005 and currently works as a Professor of Physics.
He is also a board member of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation as well as an
Eagle Scout and recipient of the
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.
Herschbach and
Peter Agre are two known Eagle Scouts who are also Nobel Prize recipients, both for chemistry.
His wife, Georgene Herschbach, is the Associate Dean of Harvard College for Undergraduate Academic Programs. She chairs Harvard's influential Committee on Undergraduate Education.
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Dudley R. Herschbach Nobel biography*
Nobel Prize Winner to Join (Texas A&M) Physics Faculty
