Chauncey Starr

Biography

Abstract

Chauncey Starr was President Emeritus of Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI) (1987-2007). Other institutional affiliations included University of California, Los Angeles, and North American Aviation, Inc. His research interests included semiconductors, thermal conductivity of metals, high pressures, cryogenics, magnetic susceptibilities at low temperatures, gas discharge phenomena, solid state, atomic energy and nuclear reactors, and risk analysis.

Important Dates

April 14, 1912Birth, Newark (N.J.).

1932Obtained BS in Electrical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy (N.Y.).

1935Obtained PhD in Physics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy (N.Y.).

1935 – 1937Coffin Fellow and Research Fellow in Physics, Harvard University.

1937 – 1938Research Physicist, P. R. Mallory Company.

1938 – 1941Research Associate in Physical Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

1941 – 1942Physicist, David W. Taylor Model Basin, Bureau of Ships, United States Navy.

1942 – 1943Physicist, University of California, Berkeley, Radiation Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

1943 – 1946Physicist, Oak Ridge Clinton Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

1946 – 1966Director, Atomic Energy Research Department (1946-1955); Vice President and General Manager, Atomics International Division (1955-1960); and Vice President and President, Atomics International Division (1960-1966), North American Aviation, Inc., Los Angeles (Calif.).

1958 – 1959President, American Nuclear Society.

1967 – 1972Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles (Calif.).

1972 – 2007President (1972-1978); Vice Chair, Board of Directors (1978-1987); and President Emeritus (1987-2007), Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), Palo Alto (Calif.).

2000Awarded George E. Pake Prize, American Physical Society.

April 17, 2007Death, Atherton (Calif.).

Occupation

Engineering physicist.

Places

Birth

Newark (N.J.)

Undergraduate Education

Troy (N.Y.)

Graduate Education

Troy (N.Y.)

Employment

Los Angeles (Calif.)

Palo Alto (Calif.)

Death

Atherton (Calif.)

Subjects

High pressure (Science).

Nuclear energy.

Nuclear reactors.

Physics -- Industrial applications.

Semiconductors.

Solid state physics.

Thermal conductivity.

Relationships

People

Colleagues

Bainbridge, Kenneth T. (Kenneth Tompkins), 1904-1996

Both employed at Harvard University.

Bridgman, P. W. (Percy Williams), 1882-1961

Both employed at Harvard University.

Cole, Julian D.

Both employed at University of California, Los Angeles.

Collins, Samuel C. (Samuel Cornette)

Both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Compton, K. T. (Karl Taylor), 1887-1954

Both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Conant, James Bryant, 1893-1978

Both employed at Harvard University.

Feenberg, Eugene

Both employed at Harvard University.

Fisk, James B. (James Brown), 1910-1981

Both employed at Harvard University.

Furry, W. H. (Wendell Hinkle), 1907-

Both employed at Harvard University.

Haworth, Leland J. (Leland John), 1904-

Both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Kemble, Edwin C. (Edwin Crawford), 1889-

Both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Keyes, Frederick G. (Frederick George), 1885-1976

Both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Lyman, Theodore, 1874-1954

Both employed at Harvard University.

Nier, Alfred O. (Alfred Otto), 1911-1994

Both employed at Harvard University.

Pierce, George Washington, 1872-1956

Both employed at Harvard University.

Saunders, Frederick A. (Frederick Albert), 1875-1963

Both employed at Harvard University.

Street, Jabez Curry, 1906-

Both employed at Harvard University.

Tousey, Richard

Both employed at Harvard University.

Ulam, Stanislaw M.

Both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Van Vleck, J. H. (John Hasbrouck), 1899-1980

Both employed at Harvard University.

Additional

Bacher, Robert F. (Robert Fox), 1905-2004

Furnas, C. C. (Clifford Cook), 1900-1969

Hakkarinen, C.

Hidy, George M.

Institutions

Major Positions

Electric Power Research Institute

President; Vice Chair, Board of Directors; and President Emeritus.

Lawrence Radiation Laboratory

Physicist, Manhattan Project.

Manhattan Project (U.S.)

Physicist, University of California, Berkeley Radiation Laboratory, and Physicist Oak Ridge Clinton Laboratory.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemistry

Research Associate in Physical Chemistry.

North American Aviation

Director, Atomic Energy Research Department; Vice President and General Manager, Atomics International Division; and Vice President and President, Atomics International Division.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Physicist, Manhattan Project.

United States. Navy

Physicist, David W. Taylor Model Basin, Bureau of Ships.

University of California, Los Angeles. Department of Engineering

Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Nuclear Society

President.

American Physical Society

Received 2000 George E. Pake Prize.

Harvard University. Department of Physics

Coffin Fellow and Research Fellow in Physics.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy

Obtained PhD in Physics (1935).

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering Department

Obtained BS in Electrical Engineering (1932).

Resources

Archival Resources

Subject

C. C. Furnas papers, 1918-1969.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Library

Abilene, KS 67410, USA

Oral history interview with Charles "Chuck" Hakkarinen, 2013 February 22.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with George M. Hidy, 2013 March 2.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral History interview with Robert F. Bacher, 1986 February 13.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

Science, technology, and the human prospect : proceedings of the Edison Centennial Symposium / edited by Chauncey Starr and Philip C. Ritterbush.

Subject

Chauncey Starr Physics Today obituary