WAUUA19_43_5270BodanskyDavid.xml Guide to the David Bodansky Papers 1955-2001 Bodansky (David) Papers Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries © 2004 (Last modified: 4/19/2018)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections (Accession No. 5270-001) Bodansky, David David Bodansky Papers 1955-2001 4.45 cubic ft. (5 boxes, 1 vertical file) Collection materials are in English. Papers of the University of Washington professor of physics.

David Bodansky was born in New York, NY, in 1924. He received a B.S., magna cum laude, in electronic physics from Harvard in 1943. After serving in the Army Signal Corps from 1943-1946, he went on to receive a M.S. and Ph.D. in physics from Harvard in 1948 and 1950 respectively. He taught at Columbia from 1950-1954. Bodansky joined the University of Washington Department of Physics faculty in 1954. He served as chairman of the department from 1976-1984 and retired in 1993. He chaired several committees at the UW, and served on many others. He was a member of the Faculty Senate in 1973-1974.

Bodansky's research interests included nuclear physics, nuclear astrophysics, radon gas and the environmental effects and hazards of nuclear energy. He published three books, including Nuclear Energy: Principles, Practices and Prospects which is widely used as a textbook for courses on energy and the environment.

Outside of the UW, Bodansky was an active member of the American Physical Society. He was the chairmen of the American Physical Society Panel on Public Affairs from 1992-1996.

The David Bodansky Papers primarily document his service, from 1992-1996, as chairman of the American Physical Society's Panel on Public Affairs (APS PoPA). This subgroup contains email correspondence, both general and subject specific. Subject series within the PoPA subgroup cover a variety of topics including large files on the conservation of helium resources, the environmental effects of electromagnetic fields, and renewable sources of electricity. Other subject files discuss national defense issues, nuclear waste, and other controversies. Sub-subgroups document sub-committees of the Panel on Public Affairs with which Bodansky was involved, including Media, Steering and Energy and the Environment.

Other subgroups address Bodansky's involvement in UW Committees relating to issues of energy, the physical sciences, science and public policy, and interdisciplinary studies. One large file contains information on the President's Advisory Committee on Cross-Disciplinary Studies.

Bodansky's personal papers contain files related to the courses that he taught at the University of Washington and include notes, both published and unpublished, as well as lesson plans. One subject series file contains information about the 1955 controversy over J. Robert Oppenheimer's rejection as a possible lecturer by UW president Henry Schmitz.

Open to all users, except one file which is restricted.

Request at UW

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Donated by David Bodansky, July 10, 2001.

Processed in 2003.

 Bodansky, David--Archives American Physical Society. Panel on Public Affairs University of Washington. University Archives Physicists--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives College teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Physics teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Physics--Study and teaching (Higher) Physics--Societies, etc University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington) Seattle Science Colleges and Universities

 

Personal Papers 1 Biographical Featues 2001 Curriculum Files 1 Arts and Sciences 402, Development of Concepts in Optics,Winter 1970 1 Physics 100, Autumn 1960 1 Physics 110, Autumn 1986 1 Physics 111, Winter 1987 1 Physics 112, Spring 1987 1 Physics 114, Winter 1997 1 Physics 116, Winter 1995 1 Physics 123, Autumn 1970 1 Physics 221, Quantum Physics, Autumn 1969 1 Physics 223, Mechanical, Spring 1969 1 Physics 225, Winter 1965 1 Physics 226, Spring 1965 1 Physics 320 1956 1 Physics 321, Autumn 1975 1 Physics 322, Winter 1976 1 Physics 323, Spring 1976 1 Physics 327, Nuclear Physics, Winter 1969 2 Physics 341, Autumn 1992 2 Physics 342, Solar Energy, Winter 1992 2 Physics 342, Solar Energy (unpublished) 2 Physics 343, Spring 1992 2 Physics 343, Environmental Radioactivity (unpublished) 1993 2 Physics 576, Summer 1962 2 Physics 572, Nuclear, Spring 1978 Subject Series 2 Oppenheimer (J. Robert) Case 1955 American Physical Society. Panel on Public Affairs 2 Historical Features n.d. General Correspondence 2 Hafemeister, David W. 1994-1997 2 Gerjuoy, Ed 1994-1997 2 Passamente, Nancy 1994-1999 2 Miscellaneous 1992-1997 Correspondence by Subject 2 Committee on International Scientific Affairs 1995-1996 2 Discrimination in APS awards 1995 2 Ethics 1995 2 Exxon Bill 1995 2 Forum of Physics and Society 1995-1996 2 History of Science 1995 2 Home Page Setup 1995-1996 2 Letter on Nuclear Waste 1996 2 Media Fellowship 1995 2 C-SPAN 1995 3 Membership 1994-1995 3 National Research Council, Environmental Query 1995 3 National Security, Theater Missile Defense 1995-1996 3 National Institute of Health Letter to Harold Varmus 1996 3 Science, Technology and Economic Growth (STEG) 1995 3 Smithsonian Exhibit 1994 3 Taxation of the Nobel Prize 1995 3 Office of Technology Assessment 1994-1995 3 Minutes 1985-1987 3 Meetings 1995 3 Reports 1995 Subject Series 3 Conservation of Helium 1995-1996 3 Colorado Amendment 1995 3 Eagle Alliance 1995-1996 3 Electro-Magnetic Fields 1994-1996 4 Energy Studies 1991-1993 4 Naming of Elements 1995 4 Nuclear Statement 1991-1994 4 Patriot Missile Study 1993-1996 4 Plutonium Criticality 1995 Renewable Sources of Electricity 4 Correspondence 1992 4 Workshop 1992 4 Report 1992-1993 4 Proposals 1992-1994 4 Science/Anti-Science 1995-1997 4 Science Budgets 1995 4 Statements, Policies 1994-1995 4 Unit Statements 1994-1995 4 APS. PoPA. Media Committee 1995 4 APS. PoPA. Energy and Environment Committee 1994-1996 4 APS. PoPA. Steering Comittee 1994-1995 4 American Physical Society. Physical Planning Committee 1995 4 UW. Arts and Sciences College. Computer Literacy Committee 1983 4-5 UW. Cross-Disciplinary Studies Advisory Committee 1969-1970 5 UW. Environmental Radiation Studies Committee 1985-1988 1143 UW. Institute for Environmental Studies Director Search Committee 1981, 1991

Restricted.

 5 UW. Physical Sciences Interdisciplinary Committee 1968 5 UW. Department of Physics. Energy Committee (ad hoc) 1973-1974 5 UW. Science and Technology Policy Commitee (Wolfle Committee) 1984-1998 5 UW. Washington Energy Research Center. Steering Committee 1980-1981