Alexander J. Dessler

Alexander J. Dessler (October 21, 1928 – April 9, 2023) was an American space scientist known for conceiving the term heliosphere and for founding the first Space Science Department in the United States.[1][2]

Alexander J. Dessler
Dessler (left) with other chairs of the Space Science Department
Born(1928-10-21)October 21, 1928
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedApril 9, 2023(2023-04-09) (aged 94)
Bryan, Texas, U.S.
Alma materCalifornia Institute of Technology,
Duke University
Known forEarth's Magnetosphere; Jupiter's Magnetosphere; Founding Chairman of the Department of Space Science, Rice University.
SpouseLorraine Barbara Dessler
AwardsMacelwane Medal; Fleming Medal, Arctowski Medal
Scientific career
FieldsMagnetospheric Physics, Heliophysics, Jovian Physics
InstitutionsLockheed Missiles and Space Company,
Rice University,
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona
Texas A & M University
Thesis (1956)
Doctoral advisorWilliam M. Fairbank

Early life and education

Dessler was born on October 21, 1928, in San Francisco, California, and received a B.S. in physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1952 and a Ph.D. in physics from Duke University in 1956. His PhD thesis was "The amplitude dependence of the velocity of second sound" under William M. Fairbank.[1][3]

Career

Dessler began his career at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company. In 1963, while at the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies, now University of Texas at Dallas, he was recruited by Rice University president Kenneth S. Pitzer to found the world's first university "Space Science" department, as a response to President John F. Kennedy's Moon Speech, delivered at Rice on September 12, 1962. The Department was the first truly multidisciplinary department in the University, bringing together Astronomy, Atmospheric Science Space Physics, Planetary Science, Atomic and Molecular Physics.[4][5]

Dessler was emeritus professor of Space Physics and Astronomy at Rice University, active from 1963 to 1992. His research subject areas are magnetospheric physics, planetary magnetospheres, primarily of Jupiter and planetary science. He was founding chair of the Department of Space Science at Rice University, later known as the Department of Space Physics and Astronomy.[6] Dessler served three terms as chair of the department and retired in 1992.[7][4] During that interval, from 1982 to 1986 he was Director of the Space Science Laboratory at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.

His educational innovations include the use of Keller-method inquiry-based self-paced instruction starting in 1970 and was instrumental in encouraging women and minorities in science.[8]

In 1993, Dessler became senior research scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, until 2007.[9] He was retired and an adjunct professor of Space Physics at Texas A & M University.[10][7]

At the Possible Relationships Between Solar Activity and Meteorological Phenomena symposium, Goddard Space Flight Center, November 7–8, 1973, Charles Greely Abbot's lifelong work on solar activity provided the foundation for research as a possible driver for Earth weather. In addressing the topic, A. J. Dessler commented that any increased energy received in Earth's troposphere due to increased solar activity is negligible, and that correlations alone do not establish causation. The challenges facing scientists with complex systems like the planet's weather require finding a coupling mechanism. He suggested to continue seeking physical mechanisms.[11]

In 2004, Dessler refuted the proposition put forth by retired NASA scientist Addison Bain concerning the causes and combustion of the Hindenburg disaster. Dessler described Bain's incendiary paint theory as flawed science based on the stoichiometry of the coating's composition, the very slow burn rate of the metallic coating of the airship, and the lack of a high enough energy source to ignite the coating.[12][13]

Personal life and death

Dessler and his wife, Lorraine, were married for almost 70 years before her death in November 2021. They had four children, including Texas A & M atmospheric scientist Andrew Dessler.

Dessler died in Bryan, Texas on April 9, 2023, at the age of 94.[14]

Awards and honors
  • 1963 - American Geophysical Union Macelwane Medal.[15] This also was the occasion of being named Fellow of the American Geophysical Union[16]
  • 1984 - Soviet Geophysical Committee, Medal for Contributions to International Geophysics
  • 1988 - Rotary National, Stellar Award for Academic Development
  • 1993 - American Geophysical Union, John Adam Fleming Medal Winner[17]
  • 1996 - Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Foreign Member
  • 2003 - American Geophysical Union, William Kaula Award
  • 2015 - National Academy of Sciences, Arctowski Medal[18]

Publications

Books authored
  • Physics of the Jovian Magnetosphere[19]

Selected articles
  • Dessler, A. J., Early History of Rice University Space Science Department.[20]
  • Dessler, A. J. and E. N. Parker, Hydromagnetic theory of geomagnetic storms.[21]
  • Dessler, A. J., Solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field.[2]
  • Dessler, A. J. and R. J. Talbot, Jr., Comment on personalized instruction: A summary of comparative research 1967–1974.[8]
  • Hill, T. W. and A. J. Dessler, Plasma motions in planetary magnetospheres.[22]
  • Hill, T. W., A. J. Dessler, and F. C. Michel, Configuration of the Jovian magnetosphere.[23]
  • Dessler, A. J., The Role of Space Science in Graduate Education.[24]
  • Dessler, A. J., The Role of Basic Research in Universities.[25]

References
  1. Dessler, Alexander J. "Biographical Sketch". AJD, CV. Texas A&M University Atmospheric Sciences. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  2. Dessler, A. J. (February 1967). "Solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field". Reviews of Geophysics. 5 (1): 1–41. Bibcode:1967RvGSP...5....1D. doi:10.1029/RG005i001p00001.
  3. "Dept. of Physics Alumni". Dept. of Physics Alumni. Duke University Trinity College of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  4. Dick, Steven J.; Launius, Roger D. (2007). Societal Impact of Spaceflight (PDF). Washington D.C.: National aeronautics and Space administration Office of External Relations History Division. p. 456..458. ISBN 978-0-16-080190-7. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  5. Reiff, Patricia. "About Space Science at Rice University". About Space Science at Rice University. Rice Space Institute. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  6. Sullivan, Walter (5 April 1995). "Hannes Alfven, 86, Founder Of Field in Physics, Is Dead". New York Times. No. Section B Pg. 22. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  7. "Space Science Building, 1965". Rice History Corner. Rice University. 29 September 2011.
  8. Dessler, A. J.; Talbot, Jr., R. J. (1977). "Comment on personalized instruction: A summary of comparative research 1967-1974". Am. J. Phys. 45 (8): 700. Bibcode:1977AmJPh..45Q.770D. doi:10.1119/1.10771.
  9. Boyd, Jade. "Rice space physics pioneer recognized by National Academy". Rice News and Media. Rice University. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  10. "Adjunct and Emeritus Faculty". Adjunct and Emeritus Faculty. Texas A&M Atmospheric Sciences. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  11. Bendeen, William R.; Maran, Stephen P. (January 1975). "Possible Relationships Between Solar Activity and Meteorological Phenomena" (PDF). NRTS NASA. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  12. Dessler, A. J. "The Hindenburg hydrogen fire: Fatal flaws in the Addison Bain incendiary paint theory" (PDF). University of Colorado at Boulder. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  13. Graham, Tim. "Hindenburg: Formula for Disaster" (PDF). CemMatters. acs.org. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  14. "Alex Dessler, founding father of Rice space science, dies at 94". Rice University. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  15. "AJ Dessler Macelwane". American Geophysical Union (AGU).
  16. "Honors Fellows". AGU Fellows. AGU. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  17. "John Adam Fleming Medal". AGU John Adam Fleming MedalRecipients. AGU. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  18. "Arctowski Medal Recipients". NAS Arctowski Medals. National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  19. Dessler, A. J. (October 2009). Dessler, A. J (ed.). Physics of the Jovian Magnetosphere. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511564574. ISBN 9780511564574.
  20. Dessler, Alexander. "Early History of Rice University Space Science Department" (PDF). Early History of Rice University Space Science Department. Rice Space Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  21. Dessler, A. J.; Parker, E. N. (December 1959). "Hydromagnetic theory of geomagnetic storms". Journal of Geophysical Research. 64 (12): 2239–2252. Bibcode:1959JGR....64.2239D. doi:10.1029/JZ064i012p02239.
  22. Hill, T. W.; Dessler, A. J. (19 April 1991). "Plasma Motions in Planetary Magnetospheres". Science. 252 (5004): 410–5. Bibcode:1991Sci...252..410H. doi:10.1126/science.252.5004.410. PMID 17740940. S2CID 895130. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  23. Hill, T. W.; Desler, A. J.; Michel, F. C. (May 1974). "Configuration of the Jovian magnetosphere". Geophysical Research Letters. 1 (1): 3–6. Bibcode:1974GeoRL...1....3H. doi:10.1029/GL001i001p00003.
  24. Desler, A. J. (September 1968). "The role of space science in graduate education". Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union. 49 (3): 549–554. Bibcode:1968TrAGU..49..549D. doi:10.1029/TR049i003p00549.
  25. Dessler, A. J. (September 1969). "The role of basic research in universities". Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union. 50 (9): 508–511. Bibcode:1969EOSTr..50..508D. doi:10.1029/EO050i009p00508.
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