Background
Shen, Benjamin Shih-Ping was born on September 14, 1931 in Hangzhou, China. Son of Nai-cheng and Chen-chiu (Sun) Shen.
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Benjamin Shih-Ping Shen
Edit ProfileEducation
AB, Assumption College, Massachusetts, 1954; Doctor of Science (honorary), Assumption College, Massachusetts, 1972; Master of Arts in Physics, Clark University, 1956; Doctor of Science d'Etat in Physics, U. Paris, 1964; Master of Arts (honorary), University Pennsylvania, 1971.
Career
Assistant professor physics, State University of New York, Albany, 1956-1959;
associate professor space science, department aerospace and astronautics, Engineering School, New York University, 1964-1966;
associate professor, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1966-1968;
professor, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1968-1972;
Reese W. Flower professor astronomy and astrophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1972-1996;
Reese Flower professor emeritus, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, since 1996;
chairman county graduate deans, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1979-1981;
associate provost, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1979-1980;
provost, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1980-1981;
department chairman astronomy and astrophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1973-1979;
director Flower and Cook Observatory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1973-1979;
member Center for Energy and Environment, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1976-1993;
chairman roundtable on science, industry and policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1976-1996;
professor School Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1980-1985. Member United States National Science Board, 1990-1994, chairman United States science and engineering indicators, 1990-1992, chairman Task Force on Science Literacy, 1992-1994. Member National Council on Science and Technology Education, since 1996.
Consultant General Electric, 1961-1968, Office Technology Assessment, United States Congress, 1977-1978. Science and technical adviser United States Senate Budget Committee, 1976-1977. Guest staff Brookhaven National Laboratory, 1963-1964, 65-70.
Chairman Commision on Public Understanding on Science, New York Academy Sciences, 1972-1975. Member of advisory committee Mount John Observatory, New Zealand, 1978-1984.
Achievements
Membership
Member Hayden Planetarium committee of board of trustees American Museum Natural History, since 1978. Member science advisory board Children's television Workshop, New York City, 1977, 79-. Member American Bar Association-American Association for the Advancement of Science National Conference Board Lawyers and Scientists, 1986-1992.
Former trustee or board directors New York Academy Sciences, National Science Foundation, University City Science Center Research Park, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Research Foundation, Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia, University Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet Company. Trustee Assumption College, since 1999. Fellow American Physical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science (commission on science engineering public policy 1978-1984), Royal Astronomical Society (United Kingdom).
Member International Astronomical Union.
Connections
Married Lucia Elisabeth Simpson, 1971. Children: William, Juliet.
