Oral history interview with Gerhard Herzberg 1986 May 5

ArchivalResource

Herzberg, Gerhard, 1904-1999,. Oral history interview with Gerhard Herzberg 1986 May 5

Oral history interview with Gerhard Herzberg 1986 May 5

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/78596467

Gerhard Herzberg descries his schooling in Germany. An interest in science and mathematics was kindled at his school in Hamburg; indeed, Herzberg's first interest was astronomy. More practical considerations led him to follow the engineering physics course at Darmstadt, where he graduated with his doctoral degree in 1928. His introduction to spectrospic studies was with Hans Rau, himself a student of Wien. A seminal year at Gottingen followed where Herzberg studied with both James Franck and Max Born; it was during this time that the basis for the well known monographs was first established. A further postdoctoral year at Bristol with Lennard Jones was followed by his return to Darmstadt as Privatdozent but the worsening political situation prompted Herzberg to seek a position abroad. He next describes his time at the University of Saskatchewan and how he was able to continue research, despite limited equipment. Analysis of cometary spectra led Herzberg into astrophysics which was further developed during the three year spell at the Yerkes Observatory. During the final section of the interview, Herzberg tells of his return to Canada and reflects on research direction at the National Research Council and the circumstances of the award of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1971. As a coda, Herzberg is asked about his involvement with chemists, especially with those concerned with free radicals.

Sound recordings ; cassettes (180 mins.)Transcript : (48 leaves) ; 29 cm.

Chemical Heritage Foundation, Othmer Library of Chemical History