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Abelson, Philip Hauge, PHd Physicist, editor of scientific literature, science writer
Philip Abelson was born in 1913. As a young physicist, he collaborated with Nobel Prize winner Luis Alvarez in early nuclear reserach, and was the co-discoverer of the element Neptunium. He was a key contributer to the Manhatten project during World War II. Although not formally associated with the atom bomb project, his invention of the Liquid Thermal Diffusion isotope separation technique proved a critical step in creating sufficient fuel for the weapon.
After the war, he turned his attention to applying nuclear power to naval propulsion. He wrote the first report detailing how a nuclear reactor could be installed in a submarine, providing both propulsion and electrical power. His report anticipated the nuclear submarine's role as a missle platform. His design was adopted as the basis for the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear submarine. Dr. Abelson is known as the "Father of the Nuclear Submarine".
From 1951 until 1971 he served as the director of the Carnegie Instution of Washington's Geophysical Laboratory. From 1962-1984 he was editor of Science magazine, published by the American Assocation for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and served as its acting Executive Officer in 1974, 1975 and 1984.
Dr. Abelson has received many distinguished awards, including The President's National Medal of Science, the National Science Foundation's Distinguished Acheivement Award, the American Medical Association's Science Achievement Award, and the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.
Dr. Abelson's late wife Neva Abelson (1910-2000) was a distinguished research physician who played a key role in developing the life-saving Rh blood factor test. His daughter Dr. Ellen Abelson Cherniavsky is an aviation researcher at The MITRE Corporation in Virginia.
Dr. Abelson remains active in the AAAS. He lives in Washington, DC.
