Background
Knopoff, Leon was born on July 1, 1925 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Son of Max and Ray (Singer) Knopoff.
physicist seismologist university professor
Knopoff, Leon was born on July 1, 1925 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Son of Max and Ray (Singer) Knopoff.
Student, Los Angeles City College, 1941-1942; Bachelor of Science in Elec Engineering, California Institute Technology, 1944; Master of Science in Physics, California Institute Technology, 1946; Doctor of Philosophy in Physics, California Institute Technology, 1949.
Assistant, then associate professor physics, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio., 1948-1950;
member of faculty, University of California at Los Angeles, since 1950;
professor physics, University of California at Los Angeles, since 1961;
professor geophysics, University of California at Los Angeles, since 1959;
research musicologist, University of California at Los Angeles, since 1963;
associate director, Institute Geophysics and Planetary Physics, 1972-1986;
professor geophysics, California Institute Technology, 1962-1963;
research associate seismology, California Institute Technology, 1963-1964;
visiting professor, Technische Hochschule, Karlsruhe, Germany, 1966;
visiting professor, Harvard University, 1972;
visiting professor, U. Chile, Santiago, 1973. Chairman United States National Upper Mantle Committee, 1963-1971. Secretary International Upper Mantle Committee, 1963-1971.
Chairman of Commission mathematics geophysics International Union Geodesyand Geophysics, 1971-1975. Member International Union Geodesy and Geophysics(United States national committee), 1973-1975. Visiting professor U. Trieste, 1984.
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Academy Arts and Sciences, Royal Astronomical Society (Jeffreys lecturer), American Geophysical Union (Gutenberg lecturer 1992), National Academy Sciences, Seismological Society American (honorary, medal 1990). Member American Physical Society, American Philosophical Society, Phi Beta Kappa (honorary).
Married Joanne Van Cleef, April 9, 1961. Children— Katherine Alexandra, Rachel Anne, Michael Van Cleef.