Kenneth V. Thimann
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Vivian Thimann was an English-American plant physiologist and microbiologist
known for his studies of plant hormones, which were widely influential in agriculture
and horticulture
. He isolated and determined the structure of auxin
, the first known plant hormone. He spent most of his early career (1935–1965) at Harvard University
, and his later career (1965 - ) at the University of California, Santa Cruz
.
Thimann was born in Ashford
, England. He studied chemistry and biochemistry at Imperial College, University of London (earning a B.Sc. and a Ph.D.) and also received a diploma from the University of Graz
. After several years teaching at the University of London, Thimann moved to the California Institute of Technology
in 1930. In 1935, he joined the Biology department of Harvard University
. He authored an influential book on plant hormones, Phytohormones, in 1937 (co-authored with F. W. Went
). Thimann became director of Harvard's Biological Laboratories in 1946, a position he held until 1950. In 1955 he wrote The Life of Bacteria, an influential book on microbiology. From 1962 until leaving Harvard in 1965, Thimann was the Higgins Professor of Biology.
Thimann moved to University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) in 1965—the year of its founding—to become the first provost
of Crown College
. At UCSC, he was largely responsible for building the science departments of the new university. He also played a central role in fostering the UCSC Arboretum and its botanical collection. After retiring as provost in 1972, Thimann remained at UCSC until 1989, when he moved to Haverford, Pennsylvania
. In 1977, he wrote Hormone Action in the Whole Life of Plants. He won the Balzan Prize
in 1982 in recognition of his contributions to botany.
Microbiologist
A microbiologist is a scientist who works in the field of microbiology. Microbiologists study organisms called microbes. Microbes can take the form of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists...
known for his studies of plant hormones, which were widely influential in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
. He isolated and determined the structure of auxin
Auxin
Auxins are a class of plant hormones with some morphogen-like characteristics. Auxins have a cardinal role in coordination of many growth and behavioral processes in the plant's life cycle and are essential for plant body development. Auxins and their role in plant growth were first described by...
, the first known plant hormone. He spent most of his early career (1935–1965) 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...
, and his later career (1965 - ) at the University of California, Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
.
Thimann was born in Ashford
Ashford, Kent
Ashford is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. In 2005 it was voted the fourth best place to live in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Great Stour river, the M20 motorway, and the South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways. Its agricultural market is one of the most...
, England. He studied chemistry and biochemistry at Imperial College, University of London (earning a B.Sc. and a Ph.D.) and also received a diploma from the University of Graz
University of Graz
The University of Graz , a university located in Graz, Austria, is the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria....
. After several years teaching at the University of London, Thimann moved to the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
in 1930. In 1935, he joined the Biology department of 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 authored an influential book on plant hormones, Phytohormones, in 1937 (co-authored with F. W. Went
Frits Went
Friedrich August Ferdinand Christian Went ForMemRS was a Dutch botanist, professor of botany and director of the Botanical Garden at the University of Utrecht...
). Thimann became director of Harvard's Biological Laboratories in 1946, a position he held until 1950. In 1955 he wrote The Life of Bacteria, an influential book on microbiology. From 1962 until leaving Harvard in 1965, Thimann was the Higgins Professor of Biology.
Thimann moved to University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) in 1965—the year of its founding—to become the first provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of Crown College
Crown College, University of California, Santa Cruz
Crown College is one of the residential colleges that makes up the University of California, Santa Cruz, USA.Despite its thematic grounding in natural science and technology, like at all UCSC colleges, Crown students major in subjects across all disciplines...
. At UCSC, he was largely responsible for building the science departments of the new university. He also played a central role in fostering the UCSC Arboretum and its botanical collection. After retiring as provost in 1972, Thimann remained at UCSC until 1989, when he moved to Haverford, Pennsylvania
Haverford, Pennsylvania
Haverford is an unincorporated community located partially in Haverford Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, USA, but primarily in Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County, about west of Philadelphia. It is on the Main Line, which is known historically for its wealth. As of August 2009,...
. In 1977, he wrote Hormone Action in the Whole Life of Plants. He won the Balzan Prize
Balzan Prize
The International Balzan Prize Foundation awards four annual monetary prizes to people or organisations who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of humanities, natural sciences, culture, as well as for endeavours for peace and the brotherhood of man.-Rewards and assets:Each year the...
in 1982 in recognition of his contributions to botany.
External links
- Kenneth V. Thimann: Early UCSC History and the Founding of Crown College - posthumous memoir by Randall Jarrell based on interviews with Thimann and his colleagues