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Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as SubjectGeorg Von Békésy
Dates
June 3, 1899 – June 13, 1972
Authorized Form of Name
Von Békésy, Georg, 1899-1972
Additional Forms of Names
Békésy, Georg von, 1899-1972
Békésy, György, 1899-1972
Biography
Abstract
Georg von Bekesy was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1961 "for his discoveries of the physical mechanism of stimulation within the cochlea." He held positions at University of Budapest, Harvard University, University of Hawaii, and the research laboratory of the Hungarian Post Office.
Important Dates
June 3, 1899Birth, Budapest (Hungary).
1916Obtained BA in Chemistry, University of Bern, Bern (Switzerland).
1923Obtained PhD in Physics, University of Budapest (Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem), Budapest (Hungary).
1923 – 1946Researcher, Laboratory of the Hungarian Post, Telephone, and Telegraph, Budapest (Hungary).
1926 – 1927Researcher, Siemens and Halske, Berlin (Germany).
1932 – 1946Privat docent (1932-1939) and Professor of Experimental Physics (1939-1946), University of Budapest (Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem), Budapest (Hungary).
1937Awarded the Leibnitz Medal, German Academy of Sciences (Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin).
1946Awarded the Academy Award, Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Magyar Tudományos Akadémia), Budapest (Hungary).
1946Visiting Researcher, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm (Sweden).
1947Senior Research Fellow, Psycho-Acoustic Laboratory, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).
1954Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
1955Awarded the Warren Medal, Experimental Psychology Society.
1956Member, U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
1957Awarded the Gold Medal, American Otological Society.
1961Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for his discoveries of the physical mechanism of stimulation within the cochlea".
1961Awarded the Gold Medal, American Acoustical Society.
1961Awarded the Achievement Award, Deafness Research Foundation.
1966Professor of Sensor Sciences, University of Hawaii, Honolulu (Hawaii).
1969Honorary DSc, University of Hawaii, Honolulu (Hawaii).
June 13, 1972Death, Honolulu (Hawaii).
Occupation
Audiologist and physicist.
Places
Birth
Undergraduate Education
Graduate Education
Employment
Death
Subjects
Relationships
People
Advisors & Collaborators
Fay, Richard R.
Advised by Von Bekesy.
Additional
Cole, Robert E.
Gold, Thomas
Helmholtz, Hermann von, 1821-1894
Stevens, S. S. (Stanley Smith), 1906-1973
Zotterman, Yngve
Zwislocki, Jozef J., 1922-
Institutions
Major Positions
Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem
Received PhD in Physics (1923). Privat docent and Professor of Experimental Physics.
Harvard University. Psycho-Acoustic Laboratory
Senior Research Fellow.
Karolinska institutet
Visiting Researcher.
Siemens & Halske
Researcher.
University of Hawaii at Manoa. Department of Physics and Astronomy
Professor of Sensory Sciences and awarded Honorary DDs (1969).
Professional Activities & Affiliations
Awarded the Gold Medal (1961).
Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin.
Awarded the Leibnitz Medal (1937).
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Fellow.
American Otological Society
Awarded the Gold Medal (1957).
Deafness Research Foundation (U.S.)
Awarded the Achievement Award (1961).
Experimental Psychology Society
Awarded the Warren Medal (1955).
Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
Awarded the Academy Prize (1946).
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
Member.
Universitat Bern
Received BA in Chemistry (1916).
Resources
Archival Resources
Author
Georg Von Bekesy biographical information, circa 1972.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Georg von Békésy papers, 1947-1972.
Pusey Library
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
George Von Békésy papers, 1928-1972 (bulk 1955-1970).
Manuscript Division
Library of Congress
James Madison Memorial Building, First Street and Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540, USA
Subject
Oral history interview with Jozef Zwislocki, 2008 December 8.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Thomas Gold, 1978 April 1.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Robert E. Cole letter to Stanley Smith Stevens, 1972.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Stanley Smith Stevens papers, 1931-1973.
Pusey Library
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Published Resources
Author
Experiments in hearing / Georg von Békésy ; translated and edited by E.G. Wever.
Subject
Georg Von Bekesy National Academy of Sciences biographical memoir.
Georg Von Bekesy Nobel Prize biography.
Georg Von Bekesy Physics Today obituary.
University of Hawaii Pacific Biosciences Research Center: Biography of Georg von Békésy.