Joseph Rotblat

Dates

November 4, 1908 – August 31, 2005

Authorized Form of Name

Rotblat, Joseph, 1908-2005

Additional Forms of Names

Rotblat, J. (Joseph), 1908-2005

Rotblat, Josef, 1908-2005

Rotblat, Józef, 1908-2005

Biography

Abstract

Joseph Rotblat was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995 with the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs "for their efforts to diminish the part played by nuclear arms in international politics and, in the longer run, to eliminate such arms." He is known as the only scientist to leave the Manhattan Project for reasons of morality. Later, he founded the Pugwash Conferences and dedicated his career to advocate for peace and medical research in an attempt to use science for the good of humanity.

Important Dates

November 4, 1908Birth, Warsaw (Poland).

1932Obtained MA in Physics, Free University of Poland (Wolna Wszechnica Polska), Warsaw (Poland).

1938Obtained Doctorate in Physics, University of Warsaw (Uniwersytet Warszawski), Warsaw (Poland).

1939Researcher and Director of Research in Nuclear Physics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool (England).

1944Leaves Manhattan Project for moral reasons upon learning that there was little danger of Nazi Germany developing their own atomic bomb.

1944Relocates to New Mexico to collaborate with American and other British scientists on the Manhattan Project, Los Alamos (N.M.).

1946Co-founded the Atomic Scientists Association of Britain.

1947Organized the "atom train," a travelling exhibit to educate the public on the benefits and risks of nuclear energy.

1950Obtained PhD in Physics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool (England).

1950 – 1975Professor of Physics; Chief Physicist; and Treasurer, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College, University of London, London (England).

1953Obtained DSc degree, University of London.

1955Signed the Russell-Einstein Manifesto.

1957Organized the Pugwash Conferences of Science and World Affairs.

1960 – 1972Editor-in-Chief, Physics in Medicine and Biology.

1965Named Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

1966Foreign Member, Polish Academy of Sciences (Polska Akademia Nauk).

1971Honorary Member, and President, British Institute of Radiology.

1972Honorary Foreign Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

1972 – 1975Member of Advisory Committee on Medical Research, World Health Organization.

1974 – 1976Vice-Dean, Faculty of Science, University of London.

1983Awarded the Bertrand Russell Society Award.

1987Named Commander, Order of Merit, Poland.

1988Foreign Member, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (Československá akademie věd).

1988Awarded the Gold Medal, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (Československá akademie věd).

1988President, Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs.

1989Knight Commander's Cross, Order of Merit, Germany.

1989Awarded the Distinguished Citizen Award, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.

1992Awarded the Albert Einstein Peace Prize.

1995Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with the Pugwash Conferences "for their efforts to diminish the part played by nuclear arms in international politics and, in the longer run, to eliminate such arms".

1995Fellow, Royal Society.

2005Death, London (England).

Occupation

Nuclear physicist.

Places

Subjects

Atomic bomb.

Medical physics.

Nuclear arms control.

Nuclear energy.

Nuclear physics.

Radiation -- Testing.

Science -- International cooperation.

Science -- Political aspects.

Science -- Security measures.

Relationships

People

Family

Gryn Rotblat, Tola

Wife.

Advisors & Collaborators

Chadwick, James, 1891-1974

Collaborated on the Manhattan Project.

Oppenheimer, J. Robert, 1904-1967

Collaborated on the Manhattan Project.

Additional

Cockcroft, John, Sir, 1897-1967

Feld, Bernard Taub, 1919-

Frisch, Otto Robert, 1904-

Journé, Venance

Kowarski, Lew

Mechelynck, André L.

Palevsky, Mary, 1949-

Peters, B. (Bernard), 1910-

Sayle, Eric

Steinberger, J.

Udgaonkar, B. M.

Whitrow, G. J.

Institutions

Major Positions

Institute of Physics Publishing

Editor-in-Chief, Physics in Medicine and Biology Journal.

Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory

Worked on Manhattan Project and left for moral reasons.

Manhattan Project (U.S.)

Contributed to creation of the atomic bomb and left in 1944 for moral reasons.

Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs

Founder; President; and shares 1995 Nobel Peace Prize Affairs "for their efforts to diminish the part played by nuclear arms in international politics and, in the longer run, to eliminate such arms."

University of Liverpool. Physics Department

Researcher and Director of Research in Nuclear Physics, and received PhD in Physics (1950).

University of London

Vice Dean, Faculty of Science; Professor of Physics; Chief Physicist; and Treasurer, St. Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College. Received DSc degree (1953).