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Table of Contents

Biography

AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjects

Relationships

PeopleInstitutions

Resources

Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as Subject

Ernst Ruska

Photo

Dates

December 25, 1906 – May 27, 1988

Authorized Form of Name

Ruska, Ernst

Additional Forms of Names

Ruska, E. ((Ernst))

Ruska, Ernst (August Friedrich)

Ruska, Ernst, 1906-1988

Biography

Abstract

Ernst Ruska was awarded the 1986 Novel Prize in Physics "for his fundamental work in electron optics, and for the design of the first electron microscope."

Important Dates

December 25, 1906Birth, Heidelberg (Germany).

1931Obtained BSc in Physical Sciences, Technical University of Berlin (Technische Universität Berlin), Berlin (Germany).

1931Constructed first electron microscope.

1931 – 1937Began working as an electrical engineer at local companies Fernseh- und kinotechnische Gesellschaft and Siemens & Halske, Berlin (Germany).

1933Obtianed PhD in Physics, Technical University of Berlin (Technische Universität Berlin), Berlin (Germany).

1933 – 1937Lecturer, Technical University of Berlin (Technische Universität Berlin), Berlin (Germany).

1939Awarded Senckenberg Prize, University of Frankfurt am Main.

1941Awarded the Silberne Leibniz Medal, Prussian Academy of Sciences (Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften).

1954Member, Max Planck Society.

1957 – 1974Director, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft), Berlin (Germany).

1959 – 1972Professor of Electron Optics and Electron Microscopy, Technical University of Berlin (Technische Universität Berlin), Berlin (Germany).

1960Awarded the Lasker Award, American Public Health Association.

1968Awarded the Diesel Gold Medal, German Inventors' Association (Deutscher Erfinder-Verband).

1970Awarded the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, Paul Ehrlich Foundation.

1975Awarded the Cothenius Medal, German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina).

1975Awarded the Duddell Medal and Prize, Institute of Physics, London.

1983Awarded the Albrecht von Graefe Medal, Berlin Medical Society.

1985Awarded the Distinguished Scientist Award, Electron Microscopy Society of America.

1986Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics "for his fundamental work in electron optics, and for the design of the first electron microscope".

1986Awarded the Robert Kock Gold Medal, Robert Koch Foundation.

May 27, 1988Death, Berlin (Germany).

Occupation

Electron optics physicist.

Places

Birth

Heidelberg (Germany)

Undergraduate Education

Berlin (Germany)

Graduate Education

Berlin (Germany)

Employment

Berlin (Germany)

Death

Berlin (Germany)

Subjects

Cathode ray oscillography.

Electron microscopes.

Electron microscopy.

Optics.

Relationships

People

Family

Geigis, Irmela Ruth

Wife, married 1937.

Ruska, Helmut, 1908-

Brother and collaborated on electron microscope.

Advisors & Collaborators

Knoll, Max, 1897-

Advisor and collaborated on building first electron microscope at Technical University of Berlin (Technische Universität Berlin).

Matthias, Adolf, 1847-1917

Advisor at Technical University of Berlin (Technische Universität Berlin).

Reichardt, Werner, 1924-

Advised by Ruska at Technical University of Berlin (Technische Universität Berlin).

Additional

Binnig, Gerd, 1947-

Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics in 1986 for a separate project.

Rohrer, Heinrich, 1933-2013

Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics in 1986 for a separate project.

Institutions

Major Positions

Fernseh- und Kinotechnische Gesellschaft (Germany)

Electrical engineer.

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften. Fritz-Haber-Institut

Director.

Siemens & Halske

Electrical engineer.

Technische Universität Berlin

Received BSc in Physical Sciences (1931) and PhD in Physics (1933). Lecturer and Professor of Electron Optics and Electron Microscopy.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Public Health Association

Awarded the Lasker Award (1960).

Berliner Medizinische Gesellschaft

Awarded the Albrecht von Gräfe Medal (1983).

Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina

Awarded the Cothenius-Medaille (1975).

Deutscher Erfinder-Verband

Awarded the Diesel Gold Medal (1968).

Electron Microscopy Society of America

Awarded the Distinguished Scientist Award (1985).

Institute of Physics (Great Britain)

Awarded the Duddell Medal and Prize (1975).

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften

Member.

Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften

Awarded the Silbere Leibniz Medal (1941).

Robert-Koch-Stiftung

Awarded Robert Koch Gold Medal (1986).

Universität Frankfurt am Main

Awarded the Senckenberg Prize (1939).

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Ernst Ruska papers, 1928-1988.

Archiv zur Geschichte der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften

Boltzmannstr. 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany

Subject

American Institute of Physics Physics Today division Bertram Schwarzschild Nobel Prize files, 1954-2013.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

The early development of electron lenses and electron microscopy / by Ernst Ruska ; transl. by Thomas Mulvey.

Subject

Ernst Ruska Memorial Site.

Ernst Ruska Nobel Prize biography.

Ernst Ruska Physics Today obituary.

Washington Post Obituary: Nobel Winner Ernst Ruska Dies.