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Biography
AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjectsRelationships
PeopleInstitutionsResources
Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as SubjectRobert C. Richardson
Dates
June 26, 1937 – February 19, 2013
Authorized Form of Name
Richardson, Robert C. (Robert Coleman), 1937-2013
Additional Forms of Names
Richardson, Robert C., 1937-2013
Richardson, Robert Coleman, 1937-2013
Biography
Abstract
Robert Richardson was Senior Vice Provost for Research Emeritus at Cornell University (2008-2013). His research interests included low temperature helium research, nuclear magnetic resonance, and cryogenics. In 1996, Richardson, David M. Lee, and Douglas D. Osheroff were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics "for their discovery of superfluidity in helium-3."
Important Dates
June 26, 1937 – February 19, 2013Birth, Washington (D.C.).
1958Obtained BS in Physics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg (Va.).
1960Obtained MS in Physics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg (Va.).
1966Obtained PhD in Physics, Duke University, Durham (N.C.).
1966 – 2013Research Associate (1966-1967); Assistant Professor to Professor of Physics (1968-1987); F. R. Newman Professor of Physics (1987-2013); Director, Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics (1990-1996); Vice Provost for Research (1998-2004); Senior Vice Provost for Research (2004-2007); Senior Science Advisor to the President and the Provost (2007); and Senior Vice Provost for Research Emeritus (2008-2013), Cornell University, Ithaca (N.Y.).
1979 – 1984Member (1979-1984) and Chair (1981-1984), Commission C-5 (Very Low Temperatures), International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.
1981Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science.
1981Awarded Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize, American Physical Society.
1983Fellow, American Physical Society.
1984Visiting Scientist, Bell Laboratories.
1986Member, National Academy of Sciences.
1989 – 1992Chair, Physics Section, National Academy of Sciences.
1994 – 2004Member (1994-2004) and Vice Chair (1997-2004), Board on Physics and Astronomy, National Research Council.
1995Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
1995Chair, Division of Condensed Matter Physics, American Physical Society.
1996Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics with David M. Lee and Douglas D. Osheroff for the "discovery of superfluidity in helium-3".
1997 – 1999Vice Chair US Liaison Committee, Commission C-5 (Very Low Temperatures), International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.
1997 – 2003Member (1997-2003) and Member, Executive Committee (2001-2003), Board of Trustees, Duke University.
1998 – 2004Member (1998-2004) and Member, Executive Committee (2000-2004), National Science Board.
1998 – 2007Member, Board of Directors, Brookhaven Science Associates.
1999 – 2002Chair, Physics Planning Committee, American Physical Society.
2000 – 2004At Large Member, Commission C-5 (Very Low Temperatures), International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.
2000 – 2004Member, Board of Directors, American Association for the Advancement of Sciences.
2000 – 2005Secretary (2000-2003) and Chair (2003-2005), Class I (Mathematical and Physical Sciences), National Academy of Sciences.
2002 – 2004Member, Executive Committee for Senior Research Officers, American Association of Universities.
February 19, 2013Death, Ithaca (N.Y.).
Occupation
Low temperature physicist.
Places
Birth
Undergraduate Education
Graduate Education
Employment
Death
Subjects
Relationships
People
Family
Merlis, Jennifer, 1965-
Daughter.
Richardson, Addie Ann, 1939-
Sister.
Richardson, Betty McCarthy
Wife. Married in 1962.
Richardson, Lois Price
Mother.
Richardson, Pamela, 1966-1994
Daughter.
Richardson, Robert Franklin
Father.
Advisors & Collaborators
Received 1996 Nobel Prize in Physics along with Douglas D. Osheroff for discovery of superfluidity in helium-3, and both employed at Cornell University.
Received 1996 Nobel Prize in Physics along with David M. Lee for discovery of superfluidity in helium-3, and both employed at Cornell University.
Colleagues
Both employed at Cornell University.
Bethe, Hans A. (Hans Albrecht), 1906-2005
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Feigenbaum, Mitchell, 1944-2019
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
McDaniel, Boyce D. (Boyce Dawkins), 1917-
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Teukolsky, Saul A. (Saul Arno), 1947-
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Wilson, Kenneth G. (Kenneth Geddes), 1936-2013
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Both employed at Cornell University.
Institutions
Major Positions
Visiting Scientist.
Cornell University. Department of Physics
Research Associate; Assistant Professor to Professor of Physics; F. R. Newman Professor of Physics; Director, Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics; Vice Provost for Research; Senior Vice Provost for Research; Senior Science Advisor to the President and the Provost; and Senior Vice Provost for Research Emeritus.
Professional Activities & Affiliations
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Fellow.
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Fellow and Member, Board of Directors.
Fellow; received 1981 Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize; Chair, Physics Planning Committee; and Chair, Division of Condensed Matter Physics.
Association of American Universities
Member, Executive Committee of Senior Research Officers.
Brookhaven Science Associates
Member, Board of Directors.
Duke University.
Member, Board of Trustees, and Member, Executive Committee, Board of Trustees.
Duke University. Department of Physics
Obtained PhD (1966).
International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
Member, Chair, Vice Chair US Liaison Committee, and At Large Member, Commission C-5 (Very Low Temperatures).
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
Member; Chair, Physics Section; Secretary and Chair, Class I (Mathematical and Physical Sciences).
National Research Council (U.S.)
Member and Vice Chair, Board on Physics and Astronomy.
National Science Board (U.S.)
Member and Member, Executive Committee.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Department of Physics
Obtained BS (1958) and MS (1960).
Resources
Archival Resources
Author
Nobel Voices Videohistory Project collection, 2000-2001.
Archives Center
Smithsonian Institution. National Museum of American History
MRC 601, 12th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20560, USA
Robert C. Richardson papers, 1962-1967.
Archives.
Duke University
341 Perkins Library, Duke University, Durham, NC 27706, USA
Subject
Video Interviews with Nobel Prize Winners in Physics, 2004-2006.
Sussex Innovation Centre. Science Park Square
Vega Science Trust
Brighton BN1 9SB, England UK
Published Resources
Author
Robert Richardson Nobel Prize Autobiography.
Subject
Robert Richardson Cornell Chronicle obituary.
Robert Richardson National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoir.