William Happer
Encyclopedia
William Happer is a physicist
who has specialised in the study of optics
and spectroscopy
. He is the Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics at Princeton University
.
, graduating in 1960, and then gained his doctorate at Princeton in 1964.
where he became a full professor
and director of the Columbia Radiation Laboratory. In 1980, he left to go to Princeton, where he was later the Class of 1909 Professor of Physics. In 1991, he joined the United States Department of Energy
, where he was the director of its research budget of $3 billion. In 1993, he returned to his position at Princeton, where he became the chair of the research board in 1995.
In addition to these full-time positions, he has had numerous other assignments: chairman of the steering committee for JASON
; trustee of the MITRE Corporation, the Richard Lounsbery Foundation
and the Marshall Institute, of which he is also Chairman, since 2006. He co-founded Magnetic Imaging Technologies Inc. in 1994.
Happer was listed as a signer of the petition of the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine
, no later than 2000, and CATO Institute
's 2009 letter. With Fred Singer
, Harold Lewis
, Robert Austin, Larry Gould, and Roger Cohen, Happer led the 2009 petition to the American Physical Society
to change its position statement on climate change. The petition was signed by a few hundred of the 47,000 members and was rejected.
The Daily Princetonian quoted Happer:
and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences
. He received a Alfred P. Sloan
fellowship in 1966, an Alexander von Humboldt
award in 1976, the Herbert P.Broida Prize in 1997, the Davisson-Germer prize and the Thomas Alva Edison patent award in 2000. In 2003 he was named the Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics at Princeton University
.
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
who has specialised in the study of optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
and spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
. He is the Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
.
Education
He studied physics at the University of North CarolinaUniversity of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
, graduating in 1960, and then gained his doctorate at Princeton in 1964.
Career
His academic career started at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
where he became a full 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...
and director of the Columbia Radiation Laboratory. In 1980, he left to go to Princeton, where he was later the Class of 1909 Professor of Physics. In 1991, he joined the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
, where he was the director of its research budget of $3 billion. In 1993, he returned to his position at Princeton, where he became the chair of the research board in 1995.
In addition to these full-time positions, he has had numerous other assignments: chairman of the steering committee for JASON
Jason
Jason was a late ancient Greek mythological hero from the late 10th Century BC, famous as the leader of the Argonauts and their quest for the Golden Fleece. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcus...
; trustee of the MITRE Corporation, the Richard Lounsbery Foundation
Richard Lounsbery Foundation
The Richard Lounsbery Foundation is a philanthropic organisation which "aims to enhance national strengths in science and technology" by supporting research projects, science education and key scientific policy issues through seed money or partial support...
and the Marshall Institute, of which he is also Chairman, since 2006. He co-founded Magnetic Imaging Technologies Inc. in 1994.
Global warming
In February 2009 Happer testified before Congress, "I believe that the increase of CO2 is not a cause for alarm and will be good for mankind", for among other reasons because of its beneficial effects on plant growth.Happer was listed as a signer of the petition of the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine
Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine
The Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine is a 501 non-profit organization located about seven miles from Cave Junction, Oregon. It is a private research institute that studies biochemistry, diagnostic medicine, nutrition, preventive medicine and the molecular biology of aging, and receives no...
, no later than 2000, and CATO Institute
Cato Institute
The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane, who remains president and CEO, and Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the conglomerate Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately held...
's 2009 letter. With Fred Singer
Fred Singer
Siegfried Fred Singer is an Austrian-born American physicist and emeritus professor of environmental science at the University of Virginia...
, Harold Lewis
Harold Lewis
Harold Warren Lewis was an Emeritus Professor of Physics and former department chairman at the University of California, Santa Barbara...
, Robert Austin, Larry Gould, and Roger Cohen, Happer led the 2009 petition to the American Physical Society
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
to change its position statement on climate change. The petition was signed by a few hundred of the 47,000 members and was rejected.
The Daily Princetonian quoted Happer:
Honours
He is a fellow of the American Physical SocietyAmerican Physical Society
The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
, 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...
. He received a Alfred P. Sloan
Alfred P. Sloan
Alfred Pritchard Sloan, Jr. was an American business executive in the automotive industry. He was a long-time president, chairman, and CEO of General Motors Corporation...
fellowship in 1966, an Alexander von Humboldt
Alexander von Humboldt
Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt was a German naturalist and explorer, and the younger brother of the Prussian minister, philosopher and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt...
award in 1976, the Herbert P.Broida Prize in 1997, the Davisson-Germer prize and the Thomas Alva Edison patent award in 2000. In 2003 he was named the Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
.