Thomas M. Donahue

Biography

Abstract

Thomas Donahue was Emeritus Edward H. White II Distinguished University Professor of Planetary Science at the University of Michigan (1974-2002). Other institutional affiliations included the University of Pittsburgh and Johns Hopkins University. His research interests included the earth’s upper atmosphere, satellites, planets, and space.

Important Dates

May 23, 1921Birth, Healdton (Okla.).

1942Obtained AB, Rockhurst College, Kansas City (Mo.).

1944 – 1945Member, Signal Corps, United States Army.

1947Obtained PhD in Physics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (Md.).

1948 – 1951Research Associate and Assistant Professor of Physics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (Md.).

1951 – 1974Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Physics (1951-1959); Professor of Physics (1959-1974); Director, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Science (1966-1974); and Director, Space Research Coordination Center (1970-1974), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh (Pa.).

1958 – 1961Member, Committee on Contamination and Interference in Space, National Research Council.

1960Guggenheim Fellow, Meudon Observatory (Observatoire de Paris-Meudon).

1960Visiting Professor, University of Paris.

1965Visiting Professor, University of Paris.

1966 – 1975Member, Committee on Polar Research (1966-1969); Member, Committee on Atmospheric Science (1969-1972); and Chair, Committee on Solar Terrestrial Research (1972-1975), National Research Council.

1968 – 1972Chair, Atmospheric Science Advisory Panel, National Science Foundation.

1968 – 1972Trustee-at-Large (1968-1975) and Chair (1971-1972), Board of Trustees, Upper Atmospheric Research Corporation.

1971 – 1972Visiting Professor, Harvard University.

1972 – 1975Member, Advisory Board, Arecibo Observatory.

1974 – 1992Member, Stratospheric Research Advisory Committee.

1974 – 1992Chair, Science Steering Group, Pioneer Venus Mission.

1974 – 2002Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science (1974-1984); Chair, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science (1974-1980); Edward H. White II Distinguished University Professor of Planetary Science (1987-1994); Director, Project for the Integrated Study of Global Change (1990-1992); and Emeritus Edward H. White II Distinguished University Professor of Planetary Science (1994-2002), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Mich.).

1977 – 1984Secretary, Vice-Chair, and Member, Board of Trustees, Universities Space Research Association.

1979Visiting Professor, University of Paris.

1979 – 1988Member, Climate Board (1979-1982) and Chair, Space Science Board (1982-1988), National Research Council.

1980Visiting Professor, University of Paris.

1982 – 1983Visiting Associate, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington.

1983Member, National Academy of Sciences.

1986 – 1988Member, Advisory Board, Arecibo Observatory.

1987 – 1989Member (1987-1989) and Chair (1988-1989), Space Telescope Institute Visiting Commission, Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy.

1990 – 1992Chair, Commission on Public Affairs, American Geophysical Union.

Occupation

Astrophysicist.

Places

Birth

Healdton (Okla.)

Undergraduate Education

Kansas City (Mo.)

Graduate Education

Baltimore (Md.)

Employment

Pittsburgh (Pa.)

Ann Arbor (Mich.)

Subjects

Astrophysics.

Outer space.

Solar system.

Relationships

People

Colleagues

Biondi, Manfred Anthony, 1924-

Both employed at University of Pittsburgh.

Cohen, Bernard Leonard, 1924-

Both employed at University of Pittsburgh.

Hafstad, Lawrence, 1904-

Both employed at Johns Hopkins University.

Holstein, Theodore David, 1915-1985

Both employed at University of Pittsburgh.

Wood, Robert Williams, 1868-1955

Both employed at Johns Hopkins University.

Institutions

Major Positions

Carnegie Institution of Washington. Department of Terrestrial Magnetism

Visiting Associate.

Harvard University. Department of Physics

Visiting Professor.

Johns Hopkins University. Department of Physics

Obtained PhD in 1947 in Physics; Research Associate; and Assistant Professor of Physics.

United States. Army. Signal Corps

Member.

Université de Paris

Visiting Professor.

University of Michigan. Astronomy Department

Edward H. White II Distinguished University Professor of Planetary Science; Director, Project for the Integrated Study of Global Change; and Emeritus Edward H. White II Distinguished University Professor of Planetary Science.

University of Michigan. Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science

Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science and Chair, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science.

University of Pittsburgh. Department of Physics

Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Physics; Professor of Physics; Director, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Science; and Director, Space Research Coordination Center.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Geophysical Union

Chair, Commission on Public Affairs.

Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory.

Member, Advisory Board.

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy

Member and Chair, Space Telescope Institute Visiting Commission.

Great Britain. Stratospheric Research Advisory Committee

Member

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

National Research Council (U.S.)

Member, Committee on Contamination and Interference in Space; Member, Committee on Polar Research; Member, Committee on Atmospheric Science; Chair, Committee on Solar Terrestrial Research; Member, Climate Board; and Chair, Space Science Board.

National Science Foundation (U.S.)

Chair, Atmospheric Science Advisory Panel.

Observatoire de Paris-Meudon

Guggenheim Fellow.

Rockhurst College

Obtained AB.

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Chair, Science Steering Group, Pioneer Venus Mission and Member, Stratospheric Research Advisory Committee.

Universities Space Research Association

Secretary, Vice-Chair, and Member, Board of Trustees.

Upper Atmospheric Research Corporation

Trustee-at-Large, Board of Trustees and Chair, Board of Trustees.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Oral history interviews. Space Science: Voyager, 1992-1994.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Thomas M. Donahue papers, 1939-2002 (bulk 1980-1998).

Bentley Historical Library

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2113, USA

Published Resources

Subject

Thomas Michael Donahue Physics Today obituary.