Background
WASSERBURG, Gerald was born on March 25, 1927 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States. Son of Charles Wasserburg and Sarah Levine Wasserburg.
professor of geology and geophysics
WASSERBURG, Gerald was born on March 25, 1927 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States. Son of Charles Wasserburg and Sarah Levine Wasserburg.
Student, Rutgers University Bachelor of Science in Physics, University of Chicago, 1951; Master of Science in Geology, University of Chicago, 1952; Doctor of Philosophy, University of Chicago, 1954; Doctor of Science (honorary), University Chicago, 1992; Doctor Honorary Causa, Brussels U., 1985; Doctor Honorary Causa, U. Paris, 1986; Doctor of Science (honorary), Arizona State University, 1987; Doctor (honorary), University Rennes, 1998; Doctor of Science (honorary), University Turin (Italy), 1999.
Research associate Institute Nuclear Studies,, University of Chicago, 1954-1955;
assistant professor, California Institute Technology, Pasadena, 1955-1959;
associate professor, California Institute Technology, Pasadena, 1959-1962;
professor geology and geophysics, California Institute Technology, Pasadena, 1962-1982;
John D. MacArthur professor geology and geophysics, California Institute Technology, Pasadena, since 1982. Served on Juneau Ice Field Research Project, 1950. Consultant Argonne National Laboratory, Lamont, Illinois, 1952-1955.
Former member United States National Committee for Geochem., committee for Planetary Exploration Study, National Research Council, advisory county Petroleum Research Fund, American Chemical Society. Medical lunar sample analysis planning team (LSAPT)manned Spacecraft Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Houston, 1968-1971, chairman, 1970. Lunar sample review board, 1970-1972.
Member Facilities Working Group LSAPT, JohnsonSpace Center, 1972-1982. Member science working panel for Apollo missions, Johnson Space Center, 1971-1973. Advisor National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1968-1988, physical science committee, 1971-1975, member lunar base steering committee, 1984.
Chairman of Commission for planetaryand lunar exploration, member space science board NAS, 1975-1978. Chairman division Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute Technology, 1987-1989. Visiting professor U. Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany, 1960, Harvard University, 1962, U. Bern, Switzerland, 1966, Swiss Federal Technology Institute, 1967, Max Planck Institute, Mainz and Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany, 1985.
Invited lecturer, Vinton Hayes Senior fellow Harvard University, 1980, Jaeger-Hales lecturer Australian National U., 1980, Harold Jeffreys lecturer Royal Astronomical Society, 1981, Ernst Cloos lecturer Johns Hopkins University, 1984, Half-Life Welsh Distinguished lecturer U.Toronto, Canada, 1986, Danz lecturer U. Washington, 1989, Goldschmidt Centennial lecturer Norwegian Academy Science and Letters, 1989, Lindsay lecturer Goddard Space Flight Center, 1996. Plenary speaker 125th Anniversary Geological Society Sweden, 1996. 60th Anniversary Symposium speaker Hebrew U., Jerusalem, 1985.
Served with United States Army, 1944-1946. Decorated Combat Infantry badge. Fellow American Academy Arts and Sciences, Geological Society London (honorary), American Geophysical Union (planetology section, Harry H. Hess medal 1985), Geological Society American (life, Arthur L. Day medal 1970), Meteoritical Society (president 1987-1988,Leonard medal 1975), Geochemical Society and the European Association for Geochemistry, 1996.
Member National Academy Sciences (Arthur L. Day prize and lectureship 1981, J. Lawrence Smith medal 1985), Norwegian Academy Science and Letters, American Phil.
Married Naomi Z. Orlick, December 21, 1951. Children: Charles David, Daniel Morris.
