Gerhard Herzberg

Born: December 25, 1904
Died: March 3, 1999
Place of Birth: Hamburg, Germany

• Gerhard Herzberg became known as the father of modern molecular spectroscopy.

• He studied in Hamburg and then concentrated on Physics at the Darmstadt Institute of Technology.

• Herzberg attained his PhD from Darmstadt in 1928 and then worked with prominent researchers in Gottingen and, later, Bristol.

• In 1935, worried about the Jewish factor in Germany, Gerhard Herzberg applied for and was appointed to a position at the University of Saskatchewan.

• Thinking of the resources that would be at his disposal, in 1945 he began research work at the University of Chicago.

• Missing Canada, Gerhard Herzberg became the Director of Physics for the National Research Council in 1949.

• Better known as "GH", he helped and inspired many younger scientists over the years.

• His discoveries in astronomy helped scientists world-wide garner new knowledge about the universe.

• Herzberg was often the first one to get to work and the last one to leave work in regard to his daily schedule.

• In 1971, Gerhard Herzberg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work with free radicals.

• The Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics in Ottawa was established in 1975 to honor this famous astronomer.

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Last Updated: February 2, 2006
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