Oral history interview with Ta-you Wu, 1977 February 5.

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Oral history interview with Ta-you Wu, 1977 February 5.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/82862756

Deals mainly with postwar buildup of NRC based on E. W. R. Steacie's visions of a fundamental research institute, in addition to industrial research. NRC appointment of G. Herzberg and Wu in 1949; Wu gives up hope of returning to China. State of Canadian physics in the late 1940s. Extensive discussion of the formation of NRC's theoretical division; Herzberg's spectroscopy group; solid state physics; summer seminars (P. A. M. Dirac, C. N. Yang); quantum field theory most fashionable field; many foreigners are postdoctoral fellows at NRC; theoretical physics section too small, Wu's proposal for expansion of theoretical physics staff rejected. Effect of Steacie's death in 1962; B.G. Ballard succeeds Steacie. Wu's plans for NRC, theoretical physics in Canada, 1949-1963 (Volkoff). Wu's frustration and resignation; accepts assignments in Taiwan, Princeton, Switzerland. Early career; China Foundation scholarship brings Wu to University of Michigan (Laporte and Sam Goudsmit), from 1931-1934. Professorship at National University in Peking, 1934; effect of war with Japan, no attempts to organize scientists in war work; comments on Western books on the war; C. N. Yang and T. D. Lee (students of Wu's at Kunming) are sent to the U.S. (University of Chicago) by Chinese government. Wu's affiliation with State University of NY at Buffalo; retired in 1978. Comments on Chalk River National Laboratories, Canadian Journal of Physics, evolution of Separate Pure and Applied Divisions at NRC (G. Herzberg, L.E. Howlett, C.J. Makenzie). Affiliation with science in Taiwan, beginning in 1973; Chinese language and modern science. Chinese physicists return to Taiwan. Council post (1967-1973) seen as his greatest achievement. Comparison of Taiwan National Science Council and the U.S. National Science Foundation. NRC's Dirac Conference, 1955; comments on Dirac; meeting Niels Bohr in China in 1935. Wu's clearance and citizenship difficulties in Canada and the U.S.

Untranscribed.

American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library

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SNAC Resource ID: 8290608

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