Gerhard Herzberg (1904-1999), winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, is considered the founder of molecular spectroscopy. Born and educated in Germany, he started his seven decades of research just as the discovery of quantum mechanics began unraveling the mysteries of the microscopic world. He chose to study spectroscopy, the light emitted and absorbed by atoms and molecules, eventually moving to Canada where he established the spectroscopy laboratory for the National Research Council. His Ottawa laboratory became a mecca for generations of young scientists from around the world. There, Herzberg systematized the knowledge of the field in the classic trilogy Molecular Spectra and Molecular Structure, Atomic Spectra, and Atomic Structure. In awarding the Nobel Prize, the Swedish Academy said, "It's quite exceptional in the field of science that a single individual, however distinguished, can be a leader of a whole area of research of general importance."
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From the Prologue: "It was the afternoon of November 2, 1971, and Gerhard Herzberg was sitting on the Moscow Express wondering about the delay in leaving the Leningard Station. He had been brought to the train on this cold and damp day with much fanfare by scientific colleagues of Leningrad University. They carried his bags, saw him settled comfortably at a reserved window seat, and waved cheerfully as the "All aboard" sounded. However, the train remained motionless, and restless passengers continually checked their watches. He became aware of some commotion on the platform as a burly figure was hurriedly guided by a conductor, gesturing to Herzberg's car and cabin. In the next moment Herzberg was being addressed by a breathless man who removed his fur hat and stood at attention. "Professor Herzberg, I am the Secretary of the Soviet Academy of Science, and I have the honour to confirm that you have been awarded the Nobel Prize in physics." With these words, the Secretary shook hands and quickly stepped off the train as it began moving."
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A review on Gerhard Herzberg, perhaps the greatest scientist ever,
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This review is from: Gerhard Herzberg: An Illustrious Life in Science (NRC Press Biography) (Hardcover)
Gerhard Herzberg: An Illustrious Life in Science1. Introduction. This essay is a review of a book by the same name. It is posted on Amazon.com. As such this essay is public knowledge and can be shared. There are several page numbers noted below that refer to pages in that book. 1.1 Leadership - This report is about leadership, both scientific and administrative. It is about the type of leadership this country needs now and also well into the future, but the type that is in very short supply. And it is about the lack of attention that the general public pays to scientists such as Gerhard Herzberg, and topics such as leadership supply and development. 1.2 The incredible bond between Herzberg and Spinks - I have known about Gerhard Herzberg (GH) for many years due to his connection with the University of Saskatchewan (UofS), one of my alma matters. A Dr. J. W. T. Spinks (JWT) was head of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and Dean of Graduate Studies when I started there in 1951. JWT had come to the UofS in 1930 at the age of 22. He spent the next 3 years preparing lectures, organizing a research program and getting to know many new people, and getting to know and love his new city, province and country. However, by 1933 conditions in SK became so bad that all unmarried professors were given one year off on $500. He headed to The Technische Hochschole Darmstadt (THD) in Darmstadt (See page 22) where he studied under GH, and the incredible bond between these two scientists was formed. JWT returned to SK in 1934. Shortly after that GH contacted him for help in finding a new position, which were now getting very hard to locate. JWT convinced the president of the UofS, and other key leaders in Canada to act. In a province that was essentially bankrupt, they found away to make him an offer. GH and his wife, Luise, escaped from Nazi Germany, and headed to North America. 2. GH's trip to New York and places west - GH left Germany on August 22nd 1935, heading to Saskatoon, where he served this university for ten years. I initially thought he came by boat to Halifax, followed by a ~3,000 mile train ride across Canada. However, his boat took him to New York City. There he was met by a James Cury, his first post doctoral fellow in Darmstadt, now working at Columbia University. Cury passed on $ advances from the UofS and from his wife's sister. While surely not very large this money made it possible for his wife to visit her sister in Chattanooga, while GH made 11 rapid trips as outlined below. (1) New York, Columbia U. Met with Isidor Rabi of atomic-beam fame and Harold Urey, Nobel Laureate in 1934 for the discovery of heavy hydrogen. (2) Boston, MIT. Was shown the activity in the new field of electronic computers. (3) Montreal, McGill U. Met with Stuart Foster and discussed his work on the Stark Effect. He also met E Steacie, a key chemist, who played an important role in GH's career many years later. (4) Princeton, NJ. Princeton U. Met with Edward Condon of the Franck-Condon principle. (5) Baltimore, Johns Hopkins U. Reviewed the grating ruling engine of Robert W. Wood, but missed him as well as a James Franck. (6) Washington, DC. Toured the National Bureau of Standards laboratory. (7) Pittsburgh, PA. Carnegie Institute of Technology. Met with Ernest Berl, a former Colleague at THD. (8) Columbus, OH. Ohio State University. No contacts were at home. (9) Ann Arbor and the U. of MI. Met with H. M. Randall and D. Dennison. This was the most enjoyable meeting as it almost all focused on spectroscopy. (10) Urbana, IL. U. of Illinois. Met with F.M. Loomis, who he had corresponded with him for many years about gratings and spectrographs. (11) Chicago, IL. U. of Chicago. Tried to meet with R. Mulliken. Was not there. At the end of these trips he would be reunited with his wife. He also noted he was able to make these trips as hotel costs ran from $1.00 to $1.75 per night. Next morning he awaited his wife's arrival from Chattanooga. They shortly left Chicago for Minneapolis on the "Hiawatha", the fastest train in North America. It took five hours to cover 800 kms, essentially 100 mph. The trains to Winnipeg, Regina and Saskatoon did not even make half this speed. These trips were not as dull as one might have expected as GH and his wife were fascinated by the vast wheat fields, and the farm homes and barns with tall "silos." However, they became increasingly concerned as these trains often stopped at places with only a few houses. They began to worry what Saskatoon would be like. They arrived in splendid sunshine on September 16th, 1935, and were delighted to find Saskatoon was an attractive, small city, decked out in beautiful fall colors. And GH's old student, friend and boarder, John Spinks, was there to greet them. The Herzbergs were penniless. Elsewhere it was reported that the Herzbergs had all of $2.50 left. 3. Ten Great Years in Saskatoon and at the University of Saskatchewan. 3.1 Saskatoon - GH and his wife adapted very rapidly to his new surroundings. On the second day they viewed a grand exhibition of the northern lights, the first of many astronomical and astrophysical events they would experience. They were also not daunted by inputs of -40 șC winter temperatures. Indeed, on page 124, there are pictures of them decked out in full winter gear. They learned that this city was named after the Indian name Mis-sask-quah-too-min, meaning "carpet of flowers." Elsewhere it has been reported that this city was named after a rather superb berry that grew in abundance all over this area. They very quickly came to know the 100 or so faculty members, and became close friends with many of them. This led to many afternoon teas, and musical evenings at friends homes, and outings to the northern lake district--Lake Waskesiu and Emma Lake--still in their natural state, and the good hiking in the forests around them, where the silences were broken only by the sound of a loon or the splash of a fish. Through Spinks, GH struck up a friendship with Canadian artist Ernest Lindner, and the Herzbergs were invited to the Saturday Night sessions at Lindner's home. These were attended by many from the university, as well as people from the press, school teachers, visiting dignitaries and artists. Discussions were intense and covered were philosophic, religious, scientific and about the arts. Another friend was Frederick Mendell, another Jewish refugee who settled in Saskatoon. He had ran a meat packing plant in Checkoslovakia, and soon started a very successful plant in Saskatoon. This enabled him to donate the Mendell Art Center to the city. There was now no doubt that Canada was to be their new home, and it was time to start a family. Their first child, Paul, was born on September 23, 1936, barely a year after they arrived in Saskatoon. Their second child, Agnes Margaret, was born on December 12, 1938. A fine picture of these two kids, with their grandparents, Luise's mother and father, are shown on page 146. There is also a cartoon on page 128 entitled "Uncle Victor's greetings on the birth of Agnes." This cartoon depicted what looked like three nudists on a tree branch, with the stork bringing along number four, namely Agnes. Uncle Victor was the brother of Frau Juda who ran the house in Darmstadt where GH and his wife and JWT lived. Her brother also lived there, but confined to a wheel-chairdue due to muscular dystrophy. He sketched and was always good company, always full of humor. Other cartoons by Uncle Victor are on pages 73 and 187. 3.2 University of Saskatchewan - In 1909, Saskatoon was awarded the University of Saskatchewan. Walter Charles Murray (1866 - 1945) was selected as the founding president. Building of a first class university became his life's mission. A picture of this school in 1935 is shown on page 118. The chemistry and physics building are prominently displayed. Murray's picture is shown on page 156. Herzberg wrote to Mrs Murray: "it was Dr. Murray who gave us a secure haven and a new home when we could not stay in our own country." Within two weeks of his arrival GH was teaching two courses, one in elementary mechanics to undergraduates and the other in atomic and molecular spectroscopy to students in the Masters Degree program. To his pleasant surprise, he found the standards at this little university to be remarkably high. Among the students in his first graduate class were William G. Schneider and Henry Taube, from neighboring farms. Both had rather distinguished careers. ### Schneider, after his masters degree, obtained a PhD in physical chemistry, from McGill University. After a three year stint at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, he joined the NRC in Ottawa, and became it's president from 1967 to 1980. ### Taube, obtained his PhD at the U. of California in Berkeley. He received the 1983 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the mechanisms of electron transfer reactions, especially metal complexes. Earle L. Harrington headed the Physics Department from 1925. He was raised on a farm in Missouri at the universities of Missouri, Harvard and Chicago. "He was a confirmed gadgeter, and believed that students from farms made the best physicists because - - - they could construct almost anything with a piece of barbed wire, angle iron and a stick of wood." Harrington was noted for his development of new apparatus and for building the first Radon plant in Western Canada. Soon GH was making many trips, and giving many lectures in Canada and the United States. His first trip was in June 1936, when he attended the Seattle-Victoria Meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. At this conference he met many American and Canadian astronomers, some... Read more ›
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