Watson, Fletcher G. (Fletcher Guard)

Fletcher G. Watson (1912-1997) was both an astronomer and an expert in science education. He was a professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, where he worked to improve standards for teaching science and for preparing science teachers. Watson earned a Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard University in 1938 and joined the Harvard College Observatory staff. During World War II, Watson served in the Navy, where he expedited the development of the Long Range Navigation (LORAN) system. After completing his military service in 1946, Watson was appointed professor of science education at the Graduate School of Education, where he served for 31 years. He was named Harvard's first Henry Lee Shattuck Professor of Education in 1966. Watson was a founder and co-director of Harvard Project Physics, a nationwide course development effort funded by the Office of Education, the National Science Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Carnegie Foundation, and Harvard. The project, which began in 1964, created a new physics course with a humanitarian emphasis to attract high school seniors, particularly girls, to the field. After his retirement from Harvard in 1977, Watson served as director of Project City Sciences at New York University. This project focused on training pre-service teachers and clinical professors for work in inner-city schools.

Fletcher Guard Watson (1912-1997), astronomer. Education: B.A., astronomy, Pomona College; M.A. and Ph.D., astronomy, Harvard University. Professional experience: Harvard College Observatory staff; Professor of science education, Graduate School of Education, Harvard (1946-1977); founder and co-director of Harvard Project Physics. Research interests: meteors, meteorites, solar observation, physics education.