Background
Simpson, John Alexander was born on November 3, 1916 in Portland, Oregon, United States. Son of John A. and Janet (Br) Simpson.
Simpson, John Alexander was born on November 3, 1916 in Portland, Oregon, United States. Son of John A. and Janet (Br) Simpson.
Bachelor of Arts, Reed College, 1940; Honorary Doctor of Science, Reed College, 1981; Master of Science, New York University, 1942; Doctor of Philosophy, New York University, 1943.
Research associate, Office of Scientific Research and Development, 1941-1942;
science group leader, Manhattan Project, 1943-1946;
instructor, University of Chicago, 1945-1947;
assistant professor, University of Chicago, 1947-1949;
associate professor, University of Chicago, 1949-1954;
Chairman of Commission on biophysics, University of Chicago, 1951;
professor physics, department physics and, Fermi Institute Nuclear Studies, 1954-1968;
Edward L. Ryerson Distinguished Service professor physics, Fermi Institute Nuclear Studies, 1968-1974;
Arthur H. Compton Distinguished Service professor physics, Fermi Institute Nuclear Studies, 1974-1987;
Arthur H. Compton Distinguished professor emeritus, Fermi Institute Nuclear Studies, since 1987;
also director, Enrico Fermi Institute, 1973-1978. Member International Committee International Geophysical Year. Chairman of the Board Ednl.
Foundation Nuclear science. Member technical panel cosmic rays National Research Council. Member International Commission Cosmic Radiation, since 1962.
Member astronomy missions board National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1968. Visiting associate physics California Institute Technology. Visiting scholar University of California, Berkeley.
Founder Laboratory Astrophysics and Space Research in Enrico Fermi Institute, 1962, Space Science.Working Group, Washington, 1982. Lecturer Victor Hess Memorial, 1997.
Board overseers, visiting committee astronomy Harvard. Member President Ford's Science Advisory Group on Science Problems, 1975-1976. Life trustee Adler Planetarium, since 1977.
Fellow American Academy Arts and Sciences, American Geophysical Union (Parker lecturer 1992, William Bowie medal 2000), American Physical Society (chairman cosmic physics division 1970-1971). Member National Academy of Sciences (elected, member space science board, Henryk Arctowski medal and premium 1993), American Philosophical Society (elected 1996, co-winner First Norman MacLean Faculty award for educating young scientists 1997), International Union Pure and Applied Physics (president cosmic ray commission 1963-1967), Atomic Scientists Chicago (chairman 1945-1946, cofounder, board bulletin since 1945, president bulletin board sponsors since 1993), American Astronomical Society (Bruno Rossi prize 1991), International Academy Astronautics, Smithsonian Institute (Martin Marietta chair in history of space science 1987-1988, Glennan, Webb, Seamans Group since 1986), Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi (Victor Hess Memorial Lecturer 25th International Cosmic Ray Conference 1997).
Son of; married Elizabeth Alice Hilts, November 30, 1946 (divorced September 1977). Children: Mary Ann, John Alexander. Married Elizabeth Scott Johnson, August 23, 1980.