In November 1891, wealthy former abolitionist and Chicago politician Amos Throop founded a thoroughly undistinguished small college in Pasadena, California, which he named after himself. Millikan’s School is the history of this institution that stands today at the pinnacle of world academics, with 300 full-time faculty, nearly 1,000 undergraduate, 1,250 graduate students and 39 Caltech and alumni Nobel Prize recipients. Although Amos Throop — the name of the college was changed to Caltech in 1920 — could not have realized the importance of geography, the fact that Pasadena lay at the foot of Mount Wilson, was central to its success: astronomer George Ellery Hale built his telescope there in 1902, the finest at that time in the world. Later Hale joined the board of trustees of the struggling school and persuaded Arthur Amos Noyes, former president of MIT and the nation’s leading physical chemist, to join him in Pasadena. The third member of Caltech’s founding troika was renowned physicist Robert A. Millikan from the University of Chicago. The dedication of Caltech in 1920 and the proclamation of what it stood for in science and education set the stage for Millikan, who functioned as the school’s president, to bring the best and the brightest from all over the world — Theodore von Kármán in aeronautics, Thomas Hunt Morgan in biology, Paul Sophus Epstein in physics, Beno Gutenberg in seismology, Linus Pauling in chemistry — to Pasadena to work in an ever larger number of areas in science and technology. The book also covers the funding, planning and construction of the 200-inch telescope on Palomar Mountain, Willy Fowler’s work in nuclear astrophysics and the wartime rocket experiments that grew into the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), today the world leader in deep-space exploration. “Millikan’s School presents an interesting and thoroughly reliable account of the astonishing change over a period of a few years of a small technical school in Pasadena, California, into one of the world’s leading scientific institutions. “ — Linus Pauling “In Millikan’s School, Judith Goodstein tells the remarkable story of the rise of Caltech... She details how Millikan, aided by Hale and Arthur Amos Noyes, America’s leading physical chemist and another of Hale’s inspired acquisitions, took a former trade school and forged from it a ‘grandiose university among the orange groves’... It would be impossible, while reading Goodstein’s lively account, not to be impressed by the energy, drive and boundless enthusiasm of men like Millikan, Hale and Noyes... [who] had the bare-faced audacity to set about building an institute to rival the cream of the universities of Europe and America.” — Marcus Chown, New Scientist “[Goodstein’s] story is first and foremost the tale of three men: the astronomer George Ellery Hale, the chemist Alfred Noyes, and the physicist Robert Millikan. It is the story of their attempts to transform an undistinguished little school founded in 1891... into a world-class scientific establishment... [A] useful book.” — Tony Rothman, Science “In Millikan’s School, the story of Throop [University]’s transformation into Caltech is told with precision... Judith Goodstein’s history offers a quick tour of the landmarks of science in the mid-20th Century and a glance at how pure science puts itself at the service of government, commerce and the military... Goodstein... approaches her subject with a healthy sense of humor and an acute sense of academic politics. She tells a wonderful story about how Caltech lost to Princeton in a bidding war over the services of Albert Einstein, for example... To her credit, Goodstein asks the hard question: ‘What is the best way to do science?’... Millikan’s School offers enough hard data to enable us to come to our own conclusions.” — Jonathan Kirsch, Los Angeles Times “A cleanly written, scientifically well informed account of one of the world’s foremost institutions for science and technology.” — Ed Regis, Nature “Relying on archival material, published secondary sources, and interviews with institute scientists, Goodstein presents a highly readable account of Caltech’s beginnings at the turn of the century... substantive, informative, and a good read.” — Rebecca S. Lowen, Technology and Culture “As a history of science, this book is well crafted. Orderly in its flow, it is not only a tribute to Millikan, but also places him within the development of physics as a field.” — Andrew Rolle, Southern California Quarterly “A fascinating history that speaks to issues far larger than Cal Tech itself... This well-written and honest account (witness the many cited instances of anti-Semitism in the scientific world) is both a good read and a sobering reminder that big science and top schools are not brought by storks.” — Carroll Pursell, History of Education Quarterly “The author focuses on the personalities and the research fields of the principal scientific figures... The [...] emphasis on personalities, and capsule surveys of relevant scientific fields produce a book that can be apprehended by a wide audience.” — Roger Geiger, Isis “This chronicle offers glimpses of the passion and drive that have motivated a roster of distinguished scientists.” — Publishers Weekly “A lively tale... [Goodstein’s] individual profiles are lean and candid; her background on subjects as diverse as nuclear astrophysics, seismology, aeronautical design, quantum mechanics and rocket fuel are crisp and understandable... With a light style... and meticulous documentation, Goodstein has produced a tale worthy of her subject... “ — Marshall Robinson, Foundation News “A distinguished and uniquely American institution has found its chronicler and its chronicle in Judith Goodstein’s thorough but compact story of Millikan ‘s School. The emergence of Caltech as a powerhouse of science and engineering and a makeweight in the technological advancement of 20th century industry is both beautifully and reliably presented.” — Harry Woolf, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University

Originally published in 1989. The pursuit of excellence is much discussed with reference to education, but the question remains, ’How can a school become excellent?’ This book demonstrates that excellence depends on good management which, in turn, depends not only on a clear understanding of good management theory, but on the ability to translate theory into practice. The authors offer profound insights into three crucial areas of leadership: culture, structure, and public accountability. Drawing on areas outside education, such as advertising and business, they discuss many innovations that are already current - flexitime, the vertical curriculum, mastery learning, community support - and depict ways in which these can be brought together into a total educational experience. More strikingly, however, they look ahead, examining the potential changes to our concept of schooling: for instance those brought about by the growth of information technology. This book emphasises that at the heart of outstanding schooling are visionary leadership, a clear sense of purpose, and creatively conceived and flexible support structures.

“The Autobiography of Robert A. Millikan is one of the most outstanding works of its kind done by an American man of science. The treatment is lucid and brings out in clear relief not only the activities of the man himself but of those, and there are many, with whom he has associated and collaborated in the fields of teaching, research, and administration. The autobiography is that of a dynamic personality associated with patience, persistence and enthusiasm. The treatment is free from egotism and refreshingly frank and forthright.” — B. J. Spence, American Journal of Physics “Robert Andrews Millikan is one of the most distinguished physicists in the world and his autobiography will interest not only the entire scientific world, but the reading public at large... It is refreshing and helpful for younger [scientific] workers to read... that only after many discouraging attempts did [Millikan’s] great researches on the determination of the electronic charge and his proof of the Einstein photoelectric law emerge.” — Robert S. Shankland, Physics Today “It is seldom that a man is so successful in getting his personality into his own writing about himself... The book is much more than the record of the life of one man,... it is a history of the physics of his time, and as such will find its place among the other histories of the most memorable decades that physics has yet experienced.” — P. W. Bridgman, Science “[A] history of twentieth-century physics as viewed through the eyes of one of its chief participants... The book is a necessity in the education of our younger physicists. It is very valuable to all those who have any part in public affairs.” — Dinsmore Alter, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific “Physicists everywhere will find Millikan’s autobiography a narrative of absorbing interest.” — J. G. Wilson, Science Progress “An interesting account of a busy scientist’s career and absorbing descriptions of major advances of 20th-century physics to which Millikan made essential contributions. A rare history of a civilized, happy man.” — Scientific American “Interestingly written and [...] not devoid of flashes of humor.” — Paul R. Heyl, The Scientific Monthly

In 1936, at age 31, Carl David Anderson became the second youngest Nobel laureate for his discovery of antimatter when he observed positrons in a cloud chamber.He is responsible for developing rocket power weapons that were used in World War II.He was born in New York City in 1905 and was educated in Los Angeles. He served for many years as a physics professor at California Institute of Technology. Prior to Oppenheimer, Anderson was offered the job of heading the Los Alamos atomic bomb program but could not assume the role because of family obligations.He was a pioneer in studying cosmic rays at high altitudes, first atop Pike's Peak, then after the war in a specially equipped B-29.

Radioactivity: History, Science, Vital Uses and Ominous Peril, Third Edition provides an introduction to radioactivity, the building blocks of matter, the fundamental forces in nature, and the role of quarks and force carrier particles. This new edition adds material on the dichotomy between the peaceful applications of radioactivity and the threat to the continued existence of human life from the potential use of more powerful and sophisticated nuclear weapons. The book includes a current review of studies on the probability of nuclear war and treaties, nonproliferation and disarmament, along with historical insights into the achievements of over 100 pioneers and Nobel Laureates. Through multiple worked examples, the book answers many questions for the student, teacher and practitioner as to the origins, properties and practical applications of radioactivity in fields such as medicine, biological and environmental research, industry, safe nuclear power free of greenhouse gases and nuclear fusion. Ratings and Reviews of Previous Editions: CHOICE Magazine, July 2008: "This work provides an overview of the many interesting aspects of the science of radioactive decays, including in-depth chapters that offer reminiscences on the history and important personalities of the field...This book can be useful as supplemental reading or as a reference when developing course material for nuclear physics, nuclear engineering, or health physics lectures. Special attention has been given to a chapter on the role radioactivity plays in everyday life applications...Generally the book is well produced and will be a valuable resource...Many lectures can be lightened up by including material from this work. Summing up: RECOMMENDED. Upper division undergraduates through professionals; technical program students." U. Greife, Colorado School of Mines, USA "I found the biographical accounts of the various stalwarts of Physics inspirational. Most of them, if not all, had to overcome economic hardships or p[ersonal tragedies or had to do their groundbreaking work in the face of tyranny and war. The biographies also highlighted the high standards of moral convictions that the scientists had as they realized the grave implications of some of their work and the potential threats to humanity. This ought to inspire and motivate young men and women aspiring to be physicists. Even people who have been in the field for a while should find your book re-energizing. It certainly had that effect on me." -- Dr. Ramkumar Venkataraman, Canberra Industries, Inc., Meriden, CT, USA Winner of an Honorable Mention in the 2017 PROSE Awards in the category of Chemistry and Physics (https://proseawards.com/winners/2017-award-winners/ ) - Includes new content that explains the vital benefits that nuclear technology provides and the need to be aware and involved in worldwide efforts toward the reduction of nuclear weapon stockpiles and the elimination of the threat of nuclear weapons - Provides context and insights on key research over the past three centuries, placing radioactivity in real-world contexts - Supports learning via multiple solved problems that answer practical questions concerning nuclear decay, nuclear radiation and the interaction of nuclear radiation with matter

Here is a volume that is as big and as varied as the nation it portrays. With over 1,400 entries written by some 900 historians and other scholars, it illuminates not only America's political, diplomatic, and military history, but also social, cultural, and intellectual trends; science, technology, and medicine; the arts; and religion. Here are the familiar political heroes, from George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, to Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. But here, too, are scientists, writers, radicals, sports figures, and religious leaders, with incisive portraits of such varied individuals as Thomas Edison and Eli Whitney, Babe Ruth and Muhammed Ali, Black Elk and Crazy Horse, Margaret Fuller, Emma Goldman, and Marian Anderson, even Al Capone and Jesse James. The Companion illuminates events that have shaped the nation (the Great Awakening, Bunker Hill, Wounded Knee, the Vietnam War); major Supreme Court decisions (Marbury v. Madison, Roe v. Wade); landmark legislation (the Fugitive Slave Law, the Pure Food and Drug Act); social movements (Suffrage, Civil Rights); influential books (The Jungle, Uncle Tom's Cabin); ideologies (conservatism, liberalism, Social Darwinism); even natural disasters and iconic sites (the Chicago Fire, the Johnstown Flood, Niagara Falls, the Lincoln Memorial). Here too is the nation's social and cultural history, from Films, Football, and the 4-H Club, to Immigration, Courtship and Dating, Marriage and Divorce, and Death and Dying. Extensive multi-part entries cover such key topics as the Civil War, Indian History and Culture, Slavery, and the Federal Government. A new volume for a new century, The Oxford Companion to United States History covers everything from Jamestown and the Puritans to the Human Genome Project and the Internet--from Columbus to Clinton. Written in clear, graceful prose for researchers, browsers, and general readers alike, this is the volume that addresses the totality of the American experience, its triumphs and heroes as well as its tragedies and darker moments.