Kenneth Pitzer
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Sanborn Pitzer was an American
physical and theoretical chemist, educator, and university president.
He received his B.S.
in 1935 from the California Institute of Technology
and his Ph.D.
from the University of California, Berkeley
in 1937. Upon graduation, he was appointed to the faculty of Berkeley's Chemistry Department and was eventually elevated to professor
. From 1951 to 1960, he served as dean
of the College of Chemistry
.
He was the third president of Rice University
from 1961 until 1968 and sixth president of Stanford University
from 1969 until 1971 when he returned to Berkeley. He retired in 1984, but continued research until his death.
He was Director of Research for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
from 1949 to 1951 and a member of the National Academy of Sciences
.
As a scientist he was known for his work on the thermodynamic properties of molecules, and during his long career he won many awards, mostly notably the National Medal of Science
and the Priestley Medal
.
His father, Russell K. Pitzer
, founded Pitzer College
, one of the seven Claremont Colleges
in California
. His son, Russell M. Pitzer
is also a notable chemist who currently serves on the faculty at The Ohio State University.
In the public hearing that led to the revocation of Robert Oppenheimer
's security clearance, Kenneth Pitzer testified about his policy differences with Oppenheimer concerning the development of thermonuclear weapons.
, authors of the first edition, and to Leo Brewer
, coauthor of the second edition.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physical and theoretical chemist, educator, and university president.
He received his B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1935 from the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
and his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1937. Upon graduation, he was appointed to the faculty of Berkeley's Chemistry Department and was eventually elevated to professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
. From 1951 to 1960, he served as dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the College of Chemistry
UC Berkeley College of Chemistry
The UC Berkeley College of Chemistry is one of 14 schools and colleges at the University of California, Berkeley. It houses the departments of chemistry and chemical and biomolecular engineering and occupies six buildings flanking central plaza. US News and World Report has ranked its chemistry and...
.
He was the third president of Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
from 1961 until 1968 and sixth president of Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
from 1969 until 1971 when he returned to Berkeley. He retired in 1984, but continued research until his death.
He was Director of Research for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
from 1949 to 1951 and a member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.
As a scientist he was known for his work on the thermodynamic properties of molecules, and during his long career he won many awards, mostly notably the National Medal of Science
National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
and the Priestley Medal
Priestley Medal
The Priestley Medal is the highest honor conferred by the American Chemical Society and is awarded for distinguished service in the field of chemistry. Established in 1922, the award is named after Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen who immigrated to the United States of America in 1794...
.
His father, Russell K. Pitzer
Russell K. Pitzer
Russell K. Pitzer , an American orange grower, was the founder of Pitzer College in Claremont, California, an early benefactor of the Pomona Valley Community Hospital in Pomona, and a noted philanthropist of other local causes in the Pomona Valley.Russell Kelly Pitzer was born in Mills County,...
, founded Pitzer College
Pitzer College
Pitzer College is a private residential liberal arts college located in Claremont, California, a college town approximately east of downtown Los Angeles. Pitzer College is one of the Claremont Colleges....
, one of the seven Claremont Colleges
Claremont Colleges
The Claremont Colleges are a prestigious American consortium of five undergraduate and two graduate schools of higher education located in Claremont, California, a city east of downtown Los Angeles...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. His son, Russell M. Pitzer
Russell M. Pitzer
Russell Mosher Pitzer is an American theoretical chemist and educator.He was born on May 10, 1938, in Berkeley, California and attended public schools in this and the Washington, DC area....
is also a notable chemist who currently serves on the faculty at The Ohio State University.
In the public hearing that led to the revocation of Robert Oppenheimer
Robert Oppenheimer
Julius Robert Oppenheimer was an American theoretical physicist and professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley. Along with Enrico Fermi, he is often called the "father of the atomic bomb" for his role in the Manhattan Project, the World War II project that developed the first...
's security clearance, Kenneth Pitzer testified about his policy differences with Oppenheimer concerning the development of thermonuclear weapons.
Books
With acknowledgment to Gilbert Newton Lewis and Merle RandallMerle Randall
Merle Randall was an American physical chemist famous for his work, over the period of 25 years, in measuring free energy calculations of compounds with Gilbert N. Lewis...
, authors of the first edition, and to Leo Brewer
Leo Brewer
Leo Brewer 1919-2005 was an American physical chemist, considered by many to be the founder of modern high-temperature chemistry. He was born 13 June 1919 in St. Louis, Missouri and died 22 February 2005 in Lafayette, California, of the sequelae of Beryllium poisoning from his work in World War II...
, coauthor of the second edition.
External links
- Guide to the Kenneth S. Pitzer Papers at The Bancroft Library