Rustum Roy
Encyclopedia
Rustum Roy was a materials scientist who held visiting professorships in materials science
at Arizona State University
and in medicine at the University of Arizona
, as well as an emeritus position at Pennsylvania State University
in three departments. He described himself as a science policy analyst, advocate of interdisciplinary education and alternative medicine
, and science and religion.
s at Penn State in 1948, and became an American
citizen in 1961. He had a long career at Penn State in geochemistry
and materials science. He founded the Materials Science Laboratory at Penn State and authored hundreds of technical papers. Roy was a member of the National Academy of Engineering
. Publishing in a journal for which he was editor-in-chief, he wrote about the relevance of the structure of water to homeopathy
which he defended from 'Homeophobia' by letter to The Guardian.
He referred to himself as a "citizen scientist."
(1980–85) and Senior Policy Fellow at the Brookings Institution
(1982–83). He was on the Planning and Strategy Committee of the National Council of Churches
from 1964–70. He worked with Andrew Weil
's program in integrative medicine and whole person healing at the University of Arizona.
Materials science
Materials science is an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering. This scientific field investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. It incorporates...
at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
and in medicine at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, as well as an emeritus position at Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
in three departments. He described himself as a science policy analyst, advocate of interdisciplinary education and alternative medicine
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
, and science and religion.
Education and career
Roy was born in Ranchi, Bihar Province, India. In 1942 he received BS in Physical Chemistry from Patna University and in 1944 his MS from the same university. He earned a Ph.D. in ceramicCeramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
s at Penn State in 1948, and became an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citizen in 1961. He had a long career at Penn State in geochemistry
Geochemistry
The field of geochemistry involves study of the chemical composition of the Earth and other planets, chemical processes and reactions that govern the composition of rocks, water, and soils, and the cycles of matter and energy that transport the Earth's chemical components in time and space, and...
and materials science. He founded the Materials Science Laboratory at Penn State and authored hundreds of technical papers. Roy was a member of the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
. Publishing in a journal for which he was editor-in-chief, he wrote about the relevance of the structure of water to homeopathy
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
which he defended from 'Homeophobia' by letter to The Guardian.
He referred to himself as a "citizen scientist."
Awards and honors
- Evan PughEvan PughEvan Pugh was the first president of the Pennsylvania State University, serving from 1859 until his death from cholera in 1864. An agricultural chemist, he was responsible for securing Penn State's designation in 1863 as a land-grant institution under the Morrill Land Grant Act...
Professor of the Solid State Emeritus - Professor of Geochemistry Emeritus
- Professor of Science, Technology, and Society Emeritus
- Honorary Member, Ceramic Society of Japan 1991
- Foreign Member, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering SciencesRoyal Swedish Academy of Engineering SciencesThe Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences or Kungl. Ingenjörsvetenskapsakademien , founded in 1919 by King Gustaf V, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
, elected 1977 - Foreign Fellow, Indian National Science AcademyIndian National Science AcademyThe Indian National Science Academy , New Delhi is the apex body of Indian scientists representing all branches of science & technology.-History:...
, elected 1984 - Honorary Fellow, Indian Academy of SciencesIndian Academy of SciencesThe Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore was founded by Sir C. V. Raman, and was registered as a Society on 24 April 1934. Inaugurated on 31 July 1934, it began with 65 founding fellows. The first general meeting of Fellows, held on the same day, elected Professor Raman as President, and adopted...
, 1990 - Foreign Associate, Engineering Academy of Japan, Foreign Associate 1991
- Foreign Member, Academy of Russian Sciences Foreign Member; elected 1999
- Ceramic Society of Japan (Centennial) International Award, 1991
- Mineralological Society of America Award 1957
- Federation of Materials Societies, National Materials Advancement Award 1991
- American Chemical SocietyAmerican Chemical SocietyThe American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
DuPont Award in Chemistry of Materials, 1993 - American Society for Engineering EducationAmerican Society for Engineering EducationThe American Society for Engineering Education is a non-profit member association, founded in 1893, dedicated to promoting and improving engineering and engineering technology education....
, Centennial Medal, 1993; Installed in Hall of Fame, 1993 (one of 43 in 100 years). - Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class, Gold Rays with Neck RibbonOrder of the Rising SunThe is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
, 2002.
Other activities
Roy served as a Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Policy StudiesInstitute for Policy Studies
Institute for Policy Studies is a left-wing think tank based in Washington, D.C..It has been directed by John Cavanagh since 1998- History :...
(1980–85) and Senior Policy Fellow at the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
(1982–83). He was on the Planning and Strategy Committee of the National Council of Churches
National Council of Churches
The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA is an ecumenical partnership of 37 Christian faith groups in the United States. Its member denominations, churches, conventions, and archdioceses include Mainline Protestant, Orthodox, African American, Evangelical, and historic peace...
from 1964–70. He worked with Andrew Weil
Andrew Weil
Andrew Thomas Weil is an American author and physician, who established the field of integrative medicine which attempts to integrate alternative and conventional medicine. Weil is the author of several best-selling books and operates a website and monthly newsletter promoting general health and...
's program in integrative medicine and whole person healing at the University of Arizona.
Biography
- Phoebe Forrest Link, Passionate Realist: Rustum Roy In Our Life And Time (1994), Cricklewood Press, ISBN 0-96430770-7
External links
- Rustum Roy home page
- Profile and interviews at PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
Faith and Reason series - Nature News disproves water as fuel Nature (journal)Nature (journal)Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
News article - Scientific paper proof of the inability of water to retain structure Published in Nature (journal)Nature (journal)Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...