Carl R. Soderberg
Encyclopedia
Carl Richard Soderberg (February 3, 1895 - October 17, 1979) was a power engineer and Institute Professor
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
.
, Västernorrland County
, Sweden. He enrolled at the Chalmers Institute of Technology in Göteborg. In 1919 he graduated with a degree in naval architecture. On a fellowship from The American-Scandinavian Foundation
, Soderberg came to MIT, where he was awarded the degree of bachelor of science in June of 1920.
to return to Sweden and head the development of a new line of large turbogenerators. In 1930, he returned to Westinghouse, where he was assigned to the Power Engineering Department.
In 1938, Soderberg was offered a faculty appointment in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. In 1954 Soderberg was appointed dean of the School of Engineering. He resigned as dean in 1959 and was appointed to the position of Institute Professor. Soderberg had a total of eighteen U.S. patents issued in the years from 1935 to 1950, all relating to constructional features of turbines.
Soderberg was a member of many professional societies. He was elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences
in 1947 and to the National Academy of Engineering
in 1974. He was also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
and the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
. In 1958 he was made a knight of the Order of the Polar Star
by the King of Sweden and in 1968 a commander of the Royal Order of the North Star.
On the occasion of Soderberg’s eightieth birthday in 1975, MIT announced the establishment of the Carl Richard Soderberg Professorship of Power Engineering.
Institute Professor
Institute Professor is the highest title that can be awarded to a faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States...
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
.
Background
Soderberg was born in the fishing village of Ulvöhamn, in Örnsköldsvik MunicipalityÖrnsköldsvik Municipality
Örnsköldsvik Municipality is one of Sweden's 290 municipalities, in Västernorrland County in northern Sweden. Its seat is in the town Örnsköldsvik...
, Västernorrland County
Västernorrland County
Västernorrland County is a county or län in the north of Sweden. It is bordered by the counties of Gävleborg, Jämtland, Västerbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia.- Province :...
, Sweden. He enrolled at the Chalmers Institute of Technology in Göteborg. In 1919 he graduated with a degree in naval architecture. On a fellowship from The American-Scandinavian Foundation
The American-Scandinavian Foundation
The American-Scandinavian Foundation, is an American non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting international understanding through educational and cultural exchange between the United States and Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden...
, Soderberg came to MIT, where he was awarded the degree of bachelor of science in June of 1920.
Career
In 1922, Soderberg started at the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. In 1928, Soderberg accepted an offer from ASEAASEA
Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget was a Swedish industry company. It merged with the Swiss Brown, Boveri & Cie in 1988 to form Asea Brown Boveri...
to return to Sweden and head the development of a new line of large turbogenerators. In 1930, he returned to Westinghouse, where he was assigned to the Power Engineering Department.
In 1938, Soderberg was offered a faculty appointment in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. In 1954 Soderberg was appointed dean of the School of Engineering. He resigned as dean in 1959 and was appointed to the position of Institute Professor. Soderberg had a total of eighteen U.S. patents issued in the years from 1935 to 1950, all relating to constructional features of turbines.
Soderberg was a member of many professional societies. He was elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1947 and to the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
in 1974. He was also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
and the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences or Kungl. Ingenjörsvetenskapsakademien , founded in 1919 by King Gustaf V, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
. In 1958 he was made a knight of the Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
by the King of Sweden and in 1968 a commander of the Royal Order of the North Star.
On the occasion of Soderberg’s eightieth birthday in 1975, MIT announced the establishment of the Carl Richard Soderberg Professorship of Power Engineering.
Selected works
- The Mechanical Engineering Department (Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1947)
- My Life (Public Relations Group. 1979)
Other sources
- Benson, Adolph B. and Naboth Hedin, eds. (1938) Swedes in America, 1638-1938 (The Swedish American Tercentenary Association. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press) ISBN 978-0838303269