John S. Rigden
Encyclopedia
John S. Rigden is an internationally renowned American
physicist. His areas of expertise are molecular physics and the history of science. He is currently the co-editor of the scholarly journal Physics in Perspective, published by Birkhäuser Publishing in Basel, Switzerland.
in Quincy, Massachusetts
, his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University
and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University
. He has served on the faculty of his alma mater, Eastern Nazarene, as well as Middlebury College
and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is currently an Honorary Professor of Physics at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
and holds an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Denison University
.
from 1975 to 1985. In 1987, he joined the American Institute of Physics
, where he served as Director of Physics Programs. In 1992, he was appointed Director of Development of the National Science Standards Project at the National Academy of Sciences
. In 1995, he was elected chairman of the History of Physics Forum of the American Physical Society
(of which he is currently a fellow). He has also served on committees for the American Association of Physics Teachers
, the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science
(of which he is also currently a fellow), and the National Academy of Sciences
. He served as an National Science Foundation
(NSF) consultant to the country of India
in 1968 and again in 1969. He was the United States
Representative to the International Science Exhibition in Rangoon Burma in 1970. He was also a Fulbright Fellow to Burma in 1971 and to Uruguay
in 1975.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physicist. His areas of expertise are molecular physics and the history of science. He is currently the co-editor of the scholarly journal Physics in Perspective, published by Birkhäuser Publishing in Basel, Switzerland.
Education
Rigden received his B.S. from Eastern Nazarene CollegeEastern Nazarene College
The Eastern Nazarene College is a private, coeducational college of the liberal arts and sciences in Quincy, Massachusetts near Boston, in the New England region of the United States. Known for its strong religious affiliation, distinctive liberal arts core curriculum, and excellence in science...
in Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
, his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He has served on the faculty of his alma mater, Eastern Nazarene, as well as Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is currently an Honorary Professor of Physics at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and holds an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Denison University
Denison University
Denison University is private, coeducational, and residential college of liberal arts and sciences founded in 1831. It is located in Granville, Ohio, United States, approximately 30 miles east of Columbus, the state capital...
.
Career
Rigden was editor of the American Journal of PhysicsAmerican Journal of Physics
The American Journal of Physics is a monthly, peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Association of Physics Teachers and the American Institute of Physics. The editor is Jan Tobochnik of Kalamazoo College.-Aims and scope:...
from 1975 to 1985. In 1987, he joined the American Institute of Physics
American Institute of Physics
The American Institute of Physics promotes science, the profession of physics, publishes physics journals, and produces publications for scientific and engineering societies. The AIP is made up of various member societies...
, where he served as Director of Physics Programs. In 1992, he was appointed Director of Development of the National Science Standards Project at the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. In 1995, he was elected chairman of the History of Physics Forum of the American Physical Society
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
(of which he is currently a fellow). He has also served on committees for the American Association of Physics Teachers
American Association of Physics Teachers
The American Association of Physics Teachers was founded in 1930 for the purpose of "dissemination of knowledge of physics, particularly by way of teaching." There are more than 10,000 members that reside in over 30 countries. AAPT publications include two peer-reviewed journals, the American...
, the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
(of which he is also currently a fellow), and the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. He served as an National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
(NSF) consultant to the country of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1968 and again in 1969. He was the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Representative to the International Science Exhibition in Rangoon Burma in 1970. He was also a Fulbright Fellow to Burma in 1971 and to Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
in 1975.
Published works
Rigden is the author of Physics and the Sound of Music (John Wiley), Rabi: Scientist and Citizen (Basic Books), Einstein 1905: The Standard of Greatness (Harvard, 2005), and Hydrogen: The Essential Element (Harvard). He has edited Most of the Good Stuff, Memories of Richard Feynman, and several collections, including the Macmillan Encyclopedia of Physics and was Editor-in-Chief of the Macmillan Encyclopedia of Elementary Particle Physics.External links
- Brookhaven National Laboratory: "John S. Rigden to Give a Talk at Brookhaven Lab on Albert Einstein's Revolutionary Discoveries in Physics, November 10," October 11, 2005
- Washington University in St. Louis: "Einstein experts available to talk about 100th anniversary of his 1905 ground-breaking papers" By Susan Killenberg McGinn