Dr. Gerhard Herzberg

Dr. Gerhard Herzberg, C.C.

Doctor of Science

Born in Hamburg, Germany, Dr. Herzberg received his undergraduate and doctoral degrees from the Darmstadt Institute of Technology. In 1935, he escaped from Nazi Germany to Canada and became Research Professor of Physics at the University of Saskatchewan. From 1945 to 1948, he was Professor of Spectroscopy at the University of Chicago, prior to joining the National Research Council (NRC) as Principal Research Officer, Division of Physics. He remained with the NRC to serve as Director of the divisions of physics and pure physics, and in 1969, was appointed Distinguished Research Scientist, Division of Physics. He is now a Distinguished Research Scientist with the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, named in his honour.

Other honours which have been showered on this distinguished scientist include the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1971) and the Linus Pauling Medal from the American Chemical Society (1971). In 1987, the minor planet 3316=1984 CN1 was officially named ?Herzberg.?

Dr. Herzberg?s scientific work has been in the fields of spectroscopy, atomic and molecular structure and astrophysics. It has been said that ?his work has added to our knowledge of the atmospheres of the stars and planets and has enlarged our understanding of the bonds between atoms and molecules.? He is an honorary fellow or member of learned societies around the world and has given many memorable lectures. In addition, Dr. Herzberg has published over 275 papers in scientific journals in his fields and six books on spectroscopy. He holds honorary degrees from thirty-six universities, including doctorates of science from Oxford, Cambridge and the University of Chicago.