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Guide to the David Bodansky Papers
1955-2001

Biographical Note

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.

Scope and Content

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files related to the courses that he taught at the University of Washington and include notes, both published and unpublished, as well as lesson plans.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.

Restrictions on Access

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

Restrictions on Use

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

Acquisition Info

Donated by David Bodansky, July 10, 2001.

Processing Info

Processed in 2003.

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