Background
Birman, Joseph Leon was born on May 21, 1927 in New York City. Son of Max and Miriam Ida (Meyerson) Birman.
Birman, Joseph Leon was born on May 21, 1927 in New York City. Son of Max and Miriam Ida (Meyerson) Birman.
Bachelor of Science, City College of New York, 1947. Master of Arts, Columbia University, 1950. Doctor of Philosophy, Columbia University, 1952.
Doctor of Science honoris causa, University Rènnes, France, 1974.
From senior physicist to head luminescence section GTE Research Laboratories, New York, 1952-1962. Mary Amanda Wood visiting professor University Pennsylvania, 1960. Associate professor physics New York University, 1962-1964, professor, 1964-1974.
Henry Semat professor physics City College of New York, 1974-1988. Distinguished professor physics City College of New York and Graduate School City University of New York, since 1987. Consultant research laboratories.
Visiting professor University Paris VI, Ecole Normale Superieure, 1969-1970, Japan Society Promotion of Science, Research Institute Fundamental Physics, University Kyoto, Japan, 1978, 1980, Institute Hautes Etudes Scientifiques, Bures/Yvette, France, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1987-1988, 1991, University Regensburg, 1983, 1984, 1985, Oxford University, England,1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, Technion, Israel, 1981, 1995-2010, Peking, Fudan, Nanking, Xian Universities, 1980, 1982, 1985, University Stuttgart, 1986, University Paris VI, 1987-1988, 1991, Weitzmann Institute, Rehovoth, 1988, Nankai University, 2004, 07, Theor. Physical Department, S.S. Chem Institute. Founder, chairman American coordinating committee Chinese Scholars Program, joint program American Physical Society and Chinese Academy of Sciences/Chinese State Committee Education, 1983-1986.
Served with United States Naval Reserve, 1945-1946. Fellow American Physical Society (committee International Freedom of Scientists 1991-1993, chairman Forum International Physics, 1993, 1999, Andrei Sakharov prize 2010), American Association for the Advancement of Science (committee science freedom and responsibility 1991-1993), New York Academy of Sciences (human rights committee since 1980, chair 1993-1905, governor-at-large 1989-1990, vice president 1991-1992, Heinz Pagels Human Rights award 2006), Committee Concerned Scientists (vice chair), Human Rights in China (honorary board member since 2005, board member 1988-1905).
Married Joan Sylvia Lyttle, February 22, 1950. Children: Kenneth, Deborah, Carl-David.