Background
NEEDHAM, Joseph was born in 1900 in London. Son of the late Joseph and Alicia Needham.
biochemist historian of science and orientalist
NEEDHAM, Joseph was born in 1900 in London. Son of the late Joseph and Alicia Needham.
Master of Arts, Science D. Doctor of Philosophy, Cambridge University. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Brussels.
Doctor of Science, University Norwich. Doctor of Science, Chinese University Hong Kong. Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Toronto.
Doctor of Laws, University Salford. Doctor of Letters (honorary), University Hong Kong. Doctor of Letters, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Doctor of Letters, University Hull. Doctor of Letters, University Chicago. Doctor of Letters, University North Carolina, Wilmington.
Doctor of Letters, University Cambridge. Doctor of Letters, University Cambridge, Sri. Lanka; Doctor, University Surrey.
Doctor of Philosophy, University Uppsala.
Fellow, Caius College, Cambridge since 1924, President 1959-1966, Master 1966-1976, Senior Fellow" since 1976. University Demonstrator in Biochemistry, Cambridge 1928-1933. Visiting Professor, of Biochemistry, Stanford University, California 1929.
Dunn Reader in Biochemistry, Cambridge 1933-1966.
Lecturer Yale University, Cornell University, Oberlin College 1935. Oliver Sharpey Lecturer, Royal College Physicians 1935-1936, Herbert Spencer Lecturer, Oxford 1936-1937.
Lectured Warsaw, Lwow, Cracow and Wilno Universities 1937. Head of SinoBritish Science Company-operation Office and Scientific Counsellor British Embassy, Chongqing 1942-1946.
Head of Division of Natural Sciences United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 1946-1948.
Now Honorary Counsellor to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Director East. Asian History of Science Library (Needham Research Institute), Cambridge since 1976. Director Emeritus; Chairman Ceylon Government Commission, on University Education 1958.
Hitchcock Professor. University of California, Noguchi Lecturer, Johns Hopkins University 1950.
Hobhouse Lecturer, London University 1950. Visiting Professor University of Lyon 1951.
Visiting lecturer at numerous European and Asian universities since 1956. Visiting Professor College, de France, Paris 1973, University of British Columbia 1975, Northwestern University, Evanston, 111.
1977; Danz Lecturer, University of Washington, Seattle and Wickramasinghe Lecturer, Colombo 1978, Ch’ien Mu Professor, Chinese University of Hong Kong and Huang Chan Lecturer, University of Hong Kong 1979.
Creighton Lecturer, University of London 1979. First East Asian History of Science Foundation Lecturer, University of Hong Kong 1983. Second Solomon Bochner Lecturer, Rice University (Texas) 1983.
Foreign.
President Institute Union of the History of Science 1972-1975. President Royal College, of Organists 1988-1990. Many organ recitals and broadcasts in United Kingdom, Europe, United States of America and Canada.
Guest conductor English Chamber Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra.
Director Westminster Baroque Ensemble.
Fellow Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, 1924-1995, librarian, 1959-1960, president, 1959-1966 master, 1966-1976, senior fellow, from 1976, emeritus senior fellowship Member Internat.Union History of Science (president 1972-1974), National Academy Science United States (foreign), American Academy Arts and Sciences (foreign), National Academy Sciences China (foreign, 1994), Royal Danish Academy (foreign), International Academies History of Science and Medicine, Sigma Xi (honorary).
Married Dorothy Mary Moyle, 1924 (deceased 1979). Married Lu Gwei-Djen, 1989 (deceased 1991).