John Bockris
Encyclopedia
John O'Mara Bockris is a former professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M University
whose unorthodox views have provoked controversy. He has authored, coauthored or edited more than 700 papers and 22 books principally in electrochemistry
but also in environmental chemistry, photoelectrochemistry and bioelectrochemistry. His two volume Modern Electrochemistry (second edition) Plenum, (2000) is commonly used in colleges. In the 1990s, he experimented with cold fusion
.
In 1970, Bockris, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania
, said he had found a method for using sunlight to free hydrogen from water and coined the term "hydrogen economy
" to describe the application of the anticipated technology. In 1975 he published Energy The Solar-Hydrogen Alternative. In 1982, at Texas A&M, he announced a "quantum leap" in his hydrogen-fuel technology through a "secret catalyst" that split water into hydrogen and oxygen even without the energy of sunlight. In 1984, he said he had found a material that facilitated complete conversion of sunlight to electricity. All of these "discoveries" were eventually attributed to basic errors in his research, although Bockris himself never acknowledged his mistakes.
The scientific activity of John Bockris was acknowledged with prestigious international awards, such as, e.g., the Faraday Medal of the Chemical Society of Great Britain in 1979, the ACS Award in Contemporary Technology in 1988, the Honorary Degree in Law at the Hokkaido University in 1991, the Linford Medal of the America Electrochemical Society for “excellence in teaching” in 1995, just to mention some of them. http://newenergytimes.com/v2/views/Group1/Bockris.shtml
and Fleischmann
affair. Bockris' research group was one of the early few to report results that matched those of Pons and Fleischmann. They were the first to report tritium production in similar experiments. Gary Taubes
wrote an editorial in Science
suggesting that their cells might have been spiked with tritiated water. A 3-professor panel of Texas A&M later found that none of the experiments were fraudulently conducted, saying that spiking was unlikely because scientists got different results when they tested the spiking theory by intentionally putting tritium in water. John Bockris later published his side of the controversy and a defense of academic freedom in Accountability in Research.
. The scientist received a fair amount of media attention for these extraordinary claims, and other professors felt Texas A&M's reputation was suffering from the connection to the discredited "science" of alchemy
. An editorial by Mike Epstein in the Journal of Scientific Exploration
describes what happened next:
Epstein's conclusion, however, was a defense of academic freedom:
The petition failed, and Dr. Bockris was eventually absolved by a four-professor panel of violating Texas A&M standards in proposing, conducting or reporting controversial research.
In 1997, Bockris was awarded an Ig Nobel Prize
in the field of Physics for his work in cold fusion.
Bockris retired from his professorship at Texas A&M in 1997 at the age of 74.
In 1998 John Bokris was awarded the IAHE's first Jules Verne Award.http://www.iahe.org/awards.asp
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
whose unorthodox views have provoked controversy. He has authored, coauthored or edited more than 700 papers and 22 books principally in electrochemistry
Electrochemistry
Electrochemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies chemical reactions which take place in a solution at the interface of an electron conductor and an ionic conductor , and which involve electron transfer between the electrode and the electrolyte or species in solution.If a chemical reaction is...
but also in environmental chemistry, photoelectrochemistry and bioelectrochemistry. His two volume Modern Electrochemistry (second edition) Plenum, (2000) is commonly used in colleges. In the 1990s, he experimented with cold fusion
Cold fusion
Cold fusion, also called low-energy nuclear reaction , refers to the hypothesis that nuclear fusion might explain the results of a group of experiments conducted at ordinary temperatures . Both the experimental results and the hypothesis are disputed...
.
Early work
John Bockris earned his B.Sc (1943) from Brighton Technical College, Ph.d. (1945) and D.Sc (1952) degrees in electrochemistry from Imperial College, London (1945–1953). He moved to USA in 1953 to join the University of Pennsylvania as Professor of Chemistry (1953–1971).In 1970, Bockris, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, said he had found a method for using sunlight to free hydrogen from water and coined the term "hydrogen economy
Hydrogen economy
The hydrogen economy is a proposed system of delivering energy using hydrogen. The term hydrogen economy was coined by John Bockris during a talk he gave in 1970 at General Motors Technical Center....
" to describe the application of the anticipated technology. In 1975 he published Energy The Solar-Hydrogen Alternative. In 1982, at Texas A&M, he announced a "quantum leap" in his hydrogen-fuel technology through a "secret catalyst" that split water into hydrogen and oxygen even without the energy of sunlight. In 1984, he said he had found a material that facilitated complete conversion of sunlight to electricity. All of these "discoveries" were eventually attributed to basic errors in his research, although Bockris himself never acknowledged his mistakes.
The scientific activity of John Bockris was acknowledged with prestigious international awards, such as, e.g., the Faraday Medal of the Chemical Society of Great Britain in 1979, the ACS Award in Contemporary Technology in 1988, the Honorary Degree in Law at the Hokkaido University in 1991, the Linford Medal of the America Electrochemical Society for “excellence in teaching” in 1995, just to mention some of them. http://newenergytimes.com/v2/views/Group1/Bockris.shtml
Cold fusion
Bockris experimented in cold fusion after the 1989 PonsStanley Pons
Bobby Stanley Pons is an American-French electrochemist known for his work with Martin Fleischmann on cold fusion in the 1980s and '90s.-Early life:...
and Fleischmann
Martin Fleischmann
Martin Fleischmann is a British chemist noted for his work in electrochemistry. He came to wider public prominence following his controversial publication of work with colleague Stanley Pons on cold fusion using palladium in the 1980s and '90s.-Early life:Born in Karlovy Vary, Czechoslovakia,...
affair. Bockris' research group was one of the early few to report results that matched those of Pons and Fleischmann. They were the first to report tritium production in similar experiments. Gary Taubes
Gary Taubes
Gary Taubes is an American science writer.He is the author of Nobel Dreams , Bad Science: The Short Life and Weird Times of Cold Fusion , and Good Calories, Bad Calories , titled The Diet Delusion in the UK and Australia. His book Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It was released in December...
wrote an editorial in Science
Science (magazine)
Science was a general science magazine published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science . It was intended to "bridge the distance between science and citizen", aimed at a technically literate audience who may not work professionally in the sciences...
suggesting that their cells might have been spiked with tritiated water. A 3-professor panel of Texas A&M later found that none of the experiments were fraudulently conducted, saying that spiking was unlikely because scientists got different results when they tested the spiking theory by intentionally putting tritium in water. John Bockris later published his side of the controversy and a defense of academic freedom in Accountability in Research.
Transmutation
In 1993, Bockris claimed to be experimenting with the transmutation of elements, specifically of base metals into goldGold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. The scientist received a fair amount of media attention for these extraordinary claims, and other professors felt Texas A&M's reputation was suffering from the connection to the discredited "science" of alchemy
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
. An editorial by Mike Epstein in the Journal of Scientific Exploration
Journal of Scientific Exploration
The Journal of Scientific Exploration is a quarterly scientific journal of fringe science published by the Society for Scientific Exploration that was established in 1987...
describes what happened next:
- A petition signed by 23 of the 28 distinguished professors at Texas A&M called on the university provost to strip Bockris of his title as distinguished professor. The petition follows a letter written by 11 full professors in the chemistry department (out of the department's 38 full professors) calling on Bockris to resign and remove the "shadow" he has cast over the department. The petition from the distinguished professors said "For a trained scientist to claim, or support anyone else's claim to have transmuted elements is difficult for us to believe and is no more acceptable than to claim to have invented a gravity shield, revived the dead or to be mining green cheese on the moon. We believe that Bockris' recent activities have made the terms 'Texas A&M' and 'AggieAggie-People:Aggie may be a diminutive form of the given names Agne, Agnatha, Agamemnon, Agata/Agatha, Agnija, or Agnes. It may also be a diminutive form of a family name that begins with 'Ag-'.People who are known as 'Aggie' include:* Christopher J.C...
' objects of derisive laughter throughout the world..."
Epstein's conclusion, however, was a defense of academic freedom:
- However, I would remind those who seek his ouster or demotion that their actions threaten the core of academic freedom. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, but no one should be punished for attempting to provide that proof.
The petition failed, and Dr. Bockris was eventually absolved by a four-professor panel of violating Texas A&M standards in proposing, conducting or reporting controversial research.
In 1997, Bockris was awarded an Ig Nobel Prize
Ig Nobel Prize
The Ig Nobel Prizes are an American parody of the Nobel Prizes and are given each year in early October for ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research. The stated aim of the prizes is to "first make people laugh, and then make them think"...
in the field of Physics for his work in cold fusion.
Bockris retired from his professorship at Texas A&M in 1997 at the age of 74.
In 1998 John Bokris was awarded the IAHE's first Jules Verne Award.http://www.iahe.org/awards.asp
Publications
- John O'M. Bockris and Amulya K. N. Reddy: Modern Electrochemistry, Plenum Press
- Volume 1: Ionics (2nd Edition), 1998, ISBN 0-306-45554-4
- Volume 2A: Fundamentals of Electrodics (2nd Edition), 1998, ISBN 0-306-46166-8
- Volume 2B: Electrodics in Chemistry, Engineering, Biology, and Environmental Science (2nd Edition), 1998, ISBN 0-306-46324-5
- John O'M. Bockris: The New Paradigm, D&M Enterprises, 2005, ISBN 13-978-097644405
Sources
- http://newenergytimes.com/v2/views/Group1/Bockris.shtml
- LingaFranca.com, 9 November 2000
- Bryan-College Station Eagle, 15 April 1997
- Taubes, Gary. June 1993. "Bad Science: The Short Life and Weird Times of Cold Fusion"
- Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol 8/1, 1994
Further reading
- Platt, Charles. (November 1998). What If Cold Fusion Is Real?. Wired (Issue 6.11).