Harold C. Helgeson
Encyclopedia
Harold C. Helgeson (November 13, 1931 – May 28, 2007) was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley
. He was widely regarded as the preeiminent practitioner of theoretical geochemistry
for more than 40 years, a career he embraced after a colorful set of experiences in the military and the mining industry. He was widely known to the geochemical community for his innovation, rigor, farsightedness, and tenacity in the application of thermodynamics and kinetics to the study of geochemical processes. He was known to his friends and close colleagues for his great generosity, honesty, fierce loyalty, diverse opinions, and unconventional sense of humor. He received the most prestigious international awards in geochemistry in honor of his research contributions, including the Goldschmidt Medal from the Geochemical Society
(1998) and the Urey Medal from the European Association of Geochemistry
(2004). In addition to his published work, which was prodigious, he traveled and lectured extensively. His lectures were famous for their complex diagrams and clarity, and for the sheer force of their delivery. Professor Helgeson typically delivered his potent lectures after virtually no sleep because he so enjoyed extending his social and scientific interactions into the early morning hours. Few hosts could keep up with his schedule, but they never forgot the experience.
Helgeson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
, and grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota
. As a teenager, he worked summers as a canoe trip guide in northern Minnesota and southern Ontario, where he developed a life-long love of the outdoors. After completing a degree in geology at Michigan State University
, he worked for a year as an exploration geologist for Technical Mine Consultants in Athabasca, Saskatchewan, and at Blind River, Ontario (1953–1954). He then served two years in the Korean War as a photo-radar intelligence officer in the 497th Recon. Tech. Squadron of the U.S. Air Force in Wiesbaden, Germany, where he met his first wife, Velda, an American school teacher from California. After his military service he spent four years as a mining and exploration geologist in South Africa, in diamond exploration, and as an underground mining geologist, where he learned to speak Afrikaans. His son Chris was born during this time. While deep underground, he realized that he might find a different career appealing.
In 1959 Helgeson returned to graduate school at Harvard University
, where he studied first with Hugh McKinstry, and then with Robert Garrels
. Although Helgeson nearly dropped out due to financial troubles, Professor McKinstry loaned him sufficient money to retain him in the graduate program. Receiving his Ph.D. in 1962, Helgeson published his thesis as a book in 1964, establishing the foundations of theoretical high-temperature geochemistry. After a stint as a research chemist for Shell Development Company in Houston, where his daughter Kim was born, he accompanied Bob Garrels and Fred Mackenzie in 1965 to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he began his teaching career. It was at Northwestern that he, Garrels, and Mackenzie developed the first path-calc theoretical numerical modeling program on a rollout of computer paper at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research in 1967. In 1970, he joined the faculty at the University of California, Berkeley, where he worked the next 37 years. During his Berkeley years, Helgeson met his second wife Suzanne, and his third wife, France. His daughter Broghan (mother France) was born in 1988. At Berkeley, he became a pioneer in the application of computer calculations that made use of his thermodynamic work, and the computer codes produced in his laboratory of theoretical geochemistry, known as "Prediction Central", were used by geoscientists and engineers around the world. A remarkable feature of Helgeson's career was his decision, early on, to freely distribute copies of his computer codes and databases generated over the course of his research. This created a legacy beyond his publication record, and encouraged a sense of community for those who worked on building up the theoretical tools.
Professor Helgeson’s interests continually evolved. Together with his many students and collaborators, he pioneered the development of a unified predictive theoretical approach to both the inorganic and the organic chemical realms, with applications in petroleum geochemistry
, biogeochemistry, and the chemical interactions of minerals, microbes, and aqueous species in geochemical processes. Right into the last month of his life he was revising a seminal paper advancing a new theory for the origin of petroleum.
Helgeson died at the age of 75, after a brief battle with lung cancer, in Berkeley, California
.
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. He was widely regarded as the preeiminent practitioner of theoretical geochemistry
Geochemistry
The field of geochemistry involves study of the chemical composition of the Earth and other planets, chemical processes and reactions that govern the composition of rocks, water, and soils, and the cycles of matter and energy that transport the Earth's chemical components in time and space, and...
for more than 40 years, a career he embraced after a colorful set of experiences in the military and the mining industry. He was widely known to the geochemical community for his innovation, rigor, farsightedness, and tenacity in the application of thermodynamics and kinetics to the study of geochemical processes. He was known to his friends and close colleagues for his great generosity, honesty, fierce loyalty, diverse opinions, and unconventional sense of humor. He received the most prestigious international awards in geochemistry in honor of his research contributions, including the Goldschmidt Medal from the Geochemical Society
Geochemical Society
The Geochemical Society is a nonprofit and international scientific society for the purpose of encouraging the application of chemistry to solve problems involving geology and cosmology...
(1998) and the Urey Medal from the European Association of Geochemistry
European Association of Geochemistry
The European Association of Geochemistry is a pan-European organization founded to promotes geochemical research. The EAG organizes conferences, meetings and educational courses for geochemists in Europe, including the Goldschmidt conference which it co-sponsors with the North American Geochemical...
(2004). In addition to his published work, which was prodigious, he traveled and lectured extensively. His lectures were famous for their complex diagrams and clarity, and for the sheer force of their delivery. Professor Helgeson typically delivered his potent lectures after virtually no sleep because he so enjoyed extending his social and scientific interactions into the early morning hours. Few hosts could keep up with his schedule, but they never forgot the experience.
Helgeson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, and grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
. As a teenager, he worked summers as a canoe trip guide in northern Minnesota and southern Ontario, where he developed a life-long love of the outdoors. After completing a degree in geology at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, he worked for a year as an exploration geologist for Technical Mine Consultants in Athabasca, Saskatchewan, and at Blind River, Ontario (1953–1954). He then served two years in the Korean War as a photo-radar intelligence officer in the 497th Recon. Tech. Squadron of the U.S. Air Force in Wiesbaden, Germany, where he met his first wife, Velda, an American school teacher from California. After his military service he spent four years as a mining and exploration geologist in South Africa, in diamond exploration, and as an underground mining geologist, where he learned to speak Afrikaans. His son Chris was born during this time. While deep underground, he realized that he might find a different career appealing.
In 1959 Helgeson returned to graduate school at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he studied first with Hugh McKinstry, and then with Robert Garrels
Robert Garrels
Robert Minard Garrels was an American geochemist. Garrels applied experimental physical chemistry data and techniques to geology and geochemistry problems. The book Solutions, Minerals, and Equilibria co-authored in 1965 by Garrels and Charles L...
. Although Helgeson nearly dropped out due to financial troubles, Professor McKinstry loaned him sufficient money to retain him in the graduate program. Receiving his Ph.D. in 1962, Helgeson published his thesis as a book in 1964, establishing the foundations of theoretical high-temperature geochemistry. After a stint as a research chemist for Shell Development Company in Houston, where his daughter Kim was born, he accompanied Bob Garrels and Fred Mackenzie in 1965 to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he began his teaching career. It was at Northwestern that he, Garrels, and Mackenzie developed the first path-calc theoretical numerical modeling program on a rollout of computer paper at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research in 1967. In 1970, he joined the faculty at the University of California, Berkeley, where he worked the next 37 years. During his Berkeley years, Helgeson met his second wife Suzanne, and his third wife, France. His daughter Broghan (mother France) was born in 1988. At Berkeley, he became a pioneer in the application of computer calculations that made use of his thermodynamic work, and the computer codes produced in his laboratory of theoretical geochemistry, known as "Prediction Central", were used by geoscientists and engineers around the world. A remarkable feature of Helgeson's career was his decision, early on, to freely distribute copies of his computer codes and databases generated over the course of his research. This created a legacy beyond his publication record, and encouraged a sense of community for those who worked on building up the theoretical tools.
Professor Helgeson’s interests continually evolved. Together with his many students and collaborators, he pioneered the development of a unified predictive theoretical approach to both the inorganic and the organic chemical realms, with applications in petroleum geochemistry
Petroleum geochemistry
Petroleum geochemistry is the application of chemical principles to the study of the origin, migration, accumulation, and alteration of petroleum.... Petroleum is generally considered oil and natural gases having various compounds composed of primarily hydrogen and carbon. They are usually...
, biogeochemistry, and the chemical interactions of minerals, microbes, and aqueous species in geochemical processes. Right into the last month of his life he was revising a seminal paper advancing a new theory for the origin of petroleum.
Helgeson died at the age of 75, after a brief battle with lung cancer, in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
.