Robert_M._Walker_(physicist)

Robert M. Walker (physicist)

Robert M. Walker (physicist)

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Robert M. Walker (February 6, 1929 – February 12, 2004) was an American physicist, a planetary scientist, the founder and director of McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, noted for his co-discovery of the etchability of nuclear particle tracks in solids,[1] as well as his conjecture that meteorites and lunar rocks contain a record of the ancient radiation history of various stars including the Sun.[2][3][4][5][6] Asteroid 6372 was named Walker in his honor by the International Astronomical Union.[4] Walker was a member of the National Academy of Sciences.[4][5] Walker was also a fellow of the American Physical Society,[5] the American Geophysical Union,[5] the Meteoritical Society[5] and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.[5] He was also a founder and the first president of Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA).[5][6]

Notable distinctions

Life and career

Personal life

Walker was married to the cosmochemist Ghislaine Crozaz.[8]

References

  1. [1]
    R. L. Fleischer, P. Buford Price, and Robert M. Walker (1975) Nuclear Tracks in Solids (U. California Press, Berkeley).
  2. [2]
    New York Times:Big Science; Is It Worth the Price?; Small-Scale Science Feels the Pinch From Big Projects; page 3 of 5;September 4, 1990
  3. [3]
    New York Times:PLANES SOAR INTO STRATOSPHERE TO SNARE BITS OF THE COSMIC PAST;page 2 of 3; May 11, 1982
  4. [4]
    National Academies Press:National Academy of Sciences;Biographical Memoirs;Robert M. Walker;By P. Buford Price and Ernst Zinner
  5. [5]
    Washington University in St. Louis;Robert M Walker;1929 - 2004
  6. [6]
    New York Times:Union College:Robert M, walker, director of the laboratory for space physics
  7. [7]
    "(6372) Walker". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer. 2003. p. 528. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_5826. ISBN 978-3-540-29925-7.
  8. [8]
    Sciences, National Academy of (2005). Biographical Memoirs: Volume 86. doi:10.17226/11429. ISBN 978-0-309-10369-5.
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