OSA Mourns the Death of Charles Townes
30 January 2015 - 7:04AM
Business Wire
The Optical Society expresses its condolences at the loss of
Charles Townes, OSA Fellow and recipient of the Frederic Ives Medal
(1996). Charles was a luminary in the field of optics and photonics
and was highly regarded by colleagues and the numerous students he
mentored. He died on 27 January 2015 at the age of 99.
Charles Hard Townes (Photo: Business
Wire)
“This loss marks the passing of an era,” said OSA 2014 President
Philip Bucksbaum. “For more than 60 years Charlie Townes was a
towering influence in American physics. He was a wonderful
physicist and a very generous person.”
Charles Hard Townes was born in Greenville, South Carolina, on
July 28, 1915. He attended Furman University in Greenville, where
he received a B.S. in physics and a B.A. in Modern Languages in
1935. Physics had fascinated Townes since his first course in the
subject during his sophomore year in college because of its
"beautifully logical structure". Townes completed his M.A. in
physics at Duke University in 1936, and then entered graduate
school at the California Institute of Technology, where he received
a Ph.D. in 1939 with a thesis on isotope separation and nuclear
spins.
Interest in Townes’ research has garnered fellowships around the
globe and travels to France, Japan, Italy, Canada, Germany, and
India. In addition to the Nobel Prize, Townes has received the
Templeton Prize, for contributions to the understanding of
religion, and a number of other prizes as well as 27 honorary
degrees from various universities.
“Townes was 99 years young,” said OSA CEO Elizabeth Rogan. “He
was a bright light and significant pioneer in our field. On behalf
of the OSA community, I express our warmest sympathies to Charles'
family and colleagues.”
Townes has served on a number of scientific committees advising
governmental agencies and has been active in professional
societies. This includes being a member, and vice chairman, of the
Science Advisory Committee to the President of the U.S., Chairman
of the Advisory Committee for the first human landing on the moon,
and chairman of the Defense Department’s Committee on the MX
missile. He also served on the boards of General Motors and of the
Perkins Elmer Corporations.
About OSA
Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading
professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and
entrepreneurs who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications
and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through
world-renowned publications, meetings and membership initiatives,
OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated
resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics
experts. OSA is a founding partner of the National Photonics
Initiative and the 2015 International Year of Light. For more
information, visit www.osa.org.
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OSA Media RelationsElizabeth Nolan, 202-416-1947