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Michael W. Friedlander

Michael Wulf Friedlander (November 15, 1928 – April 29, 2021)[1][2] was a South African-born[1][2] American physicist and skeptic. Friedlander was professor emeritus of physics at Washington University in St. Louis. His research involved the study of cosmic rays and gamma ray astronomy.[3] He is the author of the book At The Fringes Of Science (1998), a scholarly study of fringe science. The book is notable for its criticism of the ideas of Immanuel Velikovsky.[4][5]

Michael Wulf Friedlander
Born(1928-11-15)November 15, 1928
DiedApril 29, 2021(2021-04-29) (aged 92)
St. Louis, Missouri, United States[1]
Alma materUniversity of Cape Town (MSc)
University of Bristol (PhD)
Known forCosmic rays and related infrared and gamma ray astronomy
SpouseJessica Friedlander
Children2
Scientific career
FieldsAstronomy
Institutions

Education and career edit

Friedlander was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1928. He attained his BSc in Physics and Applied mathematics at the University of Cape Town in 1948, followed by a MSc (Physics, First Class) in 1950. He served as a junior lecturer in physics at the University of Cape Town from 1951 to 1952.[1][2]

He went to London to pursue a PhD at the University of Bristol where he was appointed as a research associate from 1954 to 1956.[6] While at the University of Bristol he jointly published with M. G. K. Menon the discovery of beta decay of the kaon and the first precision measurement of the mass of the lambda-zero hyperon.[2] In 1955 he completed his PhD (Physics) at the University of Bristol.[1]

He joined the physics department of Washington University in August 1956[2] and was appointed Assistant Professor and later Associate Professor of Physics. His aim was to replicate the Cosmic Ray Laboratory in which he had worked in Bristol.[6] He investigated the elemental composition of light cosmic rays through studies of nuclear-emulsions obtained from high-altitude balloons.[2]

In 1967 he was appointed Professor of Physics at Washington University.[1][6] During the late 1960s, in collaboration with colleagues Joseph Klarmann and Robert M. Walker he studied the very rare ultra-heavy cosmic rays with atomic number greater than 26.[2] He also investigated the effects of cosmic ray particles in dust and gas surrounding the stellar system Eta Carinae.[1]

His interest in public understanding of science led him to establish the Saturday Science series of lectures aimed at the general public in 1994. He coordinated talks by colleagues and himself on a wide array of physics and other science topics. He continued to organize these lectures until he had to withdraw in 2015 due to failing health.[2]

Friedlander was a member of the Greater St. Louis Citizens’ Committee for Nuclear Information that initiated the Baby Tooth Survey.[2] In this survey the baby teeth of school children, donated by the parents, were analysed to determine if children living near US bomb-test sites in the 1950s had been exposed to more radioactive strontium-90 than was usual.[7]

Friedlander also served as interim chairman for the department of music at Washington University from 1984 to 1986.[1]

Criticism of pseudoscience edit

Besides authoring the book At The Fringes Of Science, Friedlander also gave critical lectures opposing pseudoscience and, in particular, the pseudohistorical and pseudoscientific theories of Immanuel Velikovsky, such as Velikovsky's theory that the Earth had suffered catastrophic close contacts with Venus and Mars in ancient history, which Velikovsky published in Worlds in Collision. One such lecture was in November 1972 at the Philosophy of Science Association at a session entitled "Velikovsky and the Politics of Science". On this occasion, Immanuel Velikovsky and two of his supporters Lynn Rose and Antionette M. Patterson were present and also gave presentations.[8]

Recognition edit

Friedlander was a Guggenheim Fellow and visiting professor at Imperial College, London from 1962 to 1963. In 1975 he received the Alumni award for Teaching from Washington University. In 1993 he was awarded the Kemper Award for Innovative Teaching at Washington University.[1]

In October 1999 Washington University created the Michael Friedlander Scholarship for undergraduate students.[1]

His son David Friedlander created a memorial website for his father. The site covers not only Friedlander's cosmic rays research, but also a glimpse of her many other interests, both within the physics department and across the larger university community. The web is also a tribute to the breadth and depth and sheer number of years of commitment he demonstrated throughout his career. It also includes glimpses into his family life and hobbies.

Selected publications edit

  • Astronomy, from Stonehenge to quasars. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall. 1985. ISBN 978-0-13-049867-0. OCLC 11289172.
  • Cosmic rays. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. 1989. ISBN 978-0-674-17458-0. OCLC 18380025.
  • At The Fringes Of Science. City: Routledge. 2018. ISBN 978-0-429-97071-9. OCLC 1028812525.
  • Thin cosmic rain : particles from outer space. Cambridge: Harvard Univ Press. 2002. ISBN 978-0-674-00989-9. OCLC 228125168.

At The Fringes of Science was critically reviewed by Brian Martin in 1995. The review is full of praise for the book and includes phrases such as "This is the sort of book that many scientists might write if they investigated the issues and learned to communicate effectively to nonscientists." The review is critical of Friedlander's "dismissal of constructivism" in favour of "conventional positivist views about science."[5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ogliore, Talia (May 3, 2021). "Obituary: Michael Friedlander, professor emeritus of physics, 92". The Record (Washington University). from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Michael Wulf Friedlander". Physics Today. 2021 (4o): 1013a. 13 October 2021. Bibcode:2021PhT..2021Q1013.. doi:10.1063/PT.6.4o.20211013a. S2CID 243684230. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  3. ^ . Washington University in St. Louis. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  4. ^ Gieryn, Thomas F. (1996). "Reviewed Work: At the Fringes of Science by Michael W. Friedlander". Isis. 87 (4). University of Chicago Press: 767–768. doi:10.1086/357723. ISSN 0021-1753.
  5. ^ a b Martin, Brian (1995). "A Scientist's View of Pseudoscience: Review of Michael W. Friedlander, At the Fringes of Science". Metascience (8): 113–114.
  6. ^ a b c Physics, Department of (30 April 2021). "Michael Friedlander, 1928–2021". Department of Physics. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  7. ^ Gerl, Ellen (2014). "Scientist-citizen advocacy in the atomic age: A case study of the Baby Tooth Survey, 1958-1963" (PDF). PRism. 11 (1).
  8. ^ Gordin, M.D. (2012). The Pseudoscience Wars: Immanuel Velikovsky and the Birth of the Modern Fringe. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-30442-7. Retrieved 16 March 2022.

michael, friedlander, michael, wulf, friedlander, november, 1928, april, 2021, south, african, born, american, physicist, skeptic, friedlander, professor, emeritus, physics, washington, university, louis, research, involved, study, cosmic, rays, gamma, astrono. Michael Wulf Friedlander November 15 1928 April 29 2021 1 2 was a South African born 1 2 American physicist and skeptic Friedlander was professor emeritus of physics at Washington University in St Louis His research involved the study of cosmic rays and gamma ray astronomy 3 He is the author of the book At The Fringes Of Science 1998 a scholarly study of fringe science The book is notable for its criticism of the ideas of Immanuel Velikovsky 4 5 Michael Wulf FriedlanderBorn 1928 11 15 November 15 1928Cape Town South Africa 1 DiedApril 29 2021 2021 04 29 aged 92 St Louis Missouri United States 1 Alma materUniversity of Cape Town MSc University of Bristol PhD Known forCosmic rays and related infrared and gamma ray astronomySpouseJessica FriedlanderChildren2Scientific careerFieldsAstronomyInstitutionsMcDonnell Center for the Space Sciences Washington University in St Louis Contents 1 Education and career 1 1 Criticism of pseudoscience 2 Recognition 3 Selected publications 4 ReferencesEducation and career editFriedlander was born in Cape Town South Africa in 1928 He attained his BSc in Physics and Applied mathematics at the University of Cape Town in 1948 followed by a MSc Physics First Class in 1950 He served as a junior lecturer in physics at the University of Cape Town from 1951 to 1952 1 2 He went to London to pursue a PhD at the University of Bristol where he was appointed as a research associate from 1954 to 1956 6 While at the University of Bristol he jointly published with M G K Menon the discovery of beta decay of the kaon and the first precision measurement of the mass of the lambda zero hyperon 2 In 1955 he completed his PhD Physics at the University of Bristol 1 He joined the physics department of Washington University in August 1956 2 and was appointed Assistant Professor and later Associate Professor of Physics His aim was to replicate the Cosmic Ray Laboratory in which he had worked in Bristol 6 He investigated the elemental composition of light cosmic rays through studies of nuclear emulsions obtained from high altitude balloons 2 In 1967 he was appointed Professor of Physics at Washington University 1 6 During the late 1960s in collaboration with colleagues Joseph Klarmann and Robert M Walker he studied the very rare ultra heavy cosmic rays with atomic number greater than 26 2 He also investigated the effects of cosmic ray particles in dust and gas surrounding the stellar system Eta Carinae 1 His interest in public understanding of science led him to establish the Saturday Science series of lectures aimed at the general public in 1994 He coordinated talks by colleagues and himself on a wide array of physics and other science topics He continued to organize these lectures until he had to withdraw in 2015 due to failing health 2 Friedlander was a member of the Greater St Louis Citizens Committee for Nuclear Information that initiated the Baby Tooth Survey 2 In this survey the baby teeth of school children donated by the parents were analysed to determine if children living near US bomb test sites in the 1950s had been exposed to more radioactive strontium 90 than was usual 7 Friedlander also served as interim chairman for the department of music at Washington University from 1984 to 1986 1 Criticism of pseudoscience edit Besides authoring the book At The Fringes Of Science Friedlander also gave critical lectures opposing pseudoscience and in particular the pseudohistorical and pseudoscientific theories of Immanuel Velikovsky such as Velikovsky s theory that the Earth had suffered catastrophic close contacts with Venus and Mars in ancient history which Velikovsky published in Worlds in Collision One such lecture was in November 1972 at the Philosophy of Science Association at a session entitled Velikovsky and the Politics of Science On this occasion Immanuel Velikovsky and two of his supporters Lynn Rose and Antionette M Patterson were present and also gave presentations 8 Recognition editFriedlander was a Guggenheim Fellow and visiting professor at Imperial College London from 1962 to 1963 In 1975 he received the Alumni award for Teaching from Washington University In 1993 he was awarded the Kemper Award for Innovative Teaching at Washington University 1 In October 1999 Washington University created the Michael Friedlander Scholarship for undergraduate students 1 His son David Friedlander created a memorial website for his father The site covers not only Friedlander s cosmic rays research but also a glimpse of her many other interests both within the physics department and across the larger university community The web is also a tribute to the breadth and depth and sheer number of years of commitment he demonstrated throughout his career It also includes glimpses into his family life and hobbies Selected publications editAstronomy from Stonehenge to quasars Englewood Cliffs N J Prentice Hall 1985 ISBN 978 0 13 049867 0 OCLC 11289172 Cosmic rays Cambridge Mass Harvard University Press 1989 ISBN 978 0 674 17458 0 OCLC 18380025 At The Fringes Of Science City Routledge 2018 ISBN 978 0 429 97071 9 OCLC 1028812525 Thin cosmic rain particles from outer space Cambridge Harvard Univ Press 2002 ISBN 978 0 674 00989 9 OCLC 228125168 At The Fringes of Science was critically reviewed by Brian Martin in 1995 The review is full of praise for the book and includes phrases such as This is the sort of book that many scientists might write if they investigated the issues and learned to communicate effectively to nonscientists The review is critical of Friedlander s dismissal of constructivism in favour of conventional positivist views about science 5 References edit a b c d e f g h i j k Ogliore Talia May 3 2021 Obituary Michael Friedlander professor emeritus of physics 92 The Record Washington University Archived from the original on May 30 2021 Retrieved 14 March 2022 a b c d e f g h i Michael Wulf Friedlander Physics Today 2021 4o 1013a 13 October 2021 Bibcode 2021PhT 2021Q1013 doi 10 1063 PT 6 4o 20211013a S2CID 243684230 Retrieved 14 March 2022 Michael W Friedlander Washington University in St Louis Archived from the original on 27 September 2015 Retrieved 18 April 2016 Gieryn Thomas F 1996 Reviewed Work At the Fringes of Science by Michael W Friedlander Isis 87 4 University of Chicago Press 767 768 doi 10 1086 357723 ISSN 0021 1753 a b Martin Brian 1995 A Scientist s View of Pseudoscience Review of Michael W Friedlander At the Fringes of Science Metascience 8 113 114 a b c Physics Department of 30 April 2021 Michael Friedlander 1928 2021 Department of Physics Retrieved 14 March 2022 Gerl Ellen 2014 Scientist citizen advocacy in the atomic age A case study of the Baby Tooth Survey 1958 1963 PDF PRism 11 1 Gordin M D 2012 The Pseudoscience Wars Immanuel Velikovsky and the Birth of the Modern Fringe University of Chicago Press ISBN 978 0 226 30442 7 Retrieved 16 March 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael W Friedlander amp oldid 1215603196, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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