George Musser
Encyclopedia
George Musser is a staff editor and writer for Scientific American
magazine in New York and the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to String Theory
. He did his undergraduate studies in electrical engineering and mathematics at Brown University
and his graduate studies in planetary science at Cornell University
, where he was a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow. His thesis work modeled mantle convection on Venus in order to explain broad plateaus, known as coronae
, mapped by the Magellan orbiter. Musser served as editor of Mercury
magazine and of the Universe in the Classroom tutorial series at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
, a science and science-education nonprofit based in San Francisco.
A number of articles Musser solicited and edited have appeared in The Best American Science Writing
and The Best American Science & Nature Writing anthologies. He was the originator and one of the lead editors for the single-topic issue “A Matter of Time,” Scientific American (Sept. 2002), which won a National Magazine Award
for editorial excellence, and he coordinated the single topic issue “Crossroads for Planet Earth,” Scientific American (Sept. 2005), which won a Global Media Award from the Population Institute and was a National Magazine Award finalist. In 2010, Musser won the Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award
from the Division for Planetary Sciences
for his science writing on planetary sciences. In 2011, Musser won the Science Writing Award
from the American Institute of Physics
for his article "Could Time End?" in the September 2010 issue of Scientific American.
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
magazine in New York and the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to String Theory
String theory
String theory is an active research framework in particle physics that attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity. It is a contender for a theory of everything , a manner of describing the known fundamental forces and matter in a mathematically complete system...
. He did his undergraduate studies in electrical engineering and mathematics at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
and his graduate studies in planetary science at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, where he was a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow. His thesis work modeled mantle convection on Venus in order to explain broad plateaus, known as coronae
Corona (planetary geology)
In planetary geology, a corona is an oval-shaped feature. Coronae appear on both the planet Venus and Uranus's moon Miranda and may be formed by upwellings of warm material below the surface.-Coronae on Venus:...
, mapped by the Magellan orbiter. Musser served as editor of Mercury
Mercury (magazine)
Mercury is a science magazine that features articles and columns about astronomy for a general audience. It is the bi-monthly magazine of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and was first published in 1972....
magazine and of the Universe in the Classroom tutorial series at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is a scientific and educational organization, founded in San Francisco on February 7, 1889. Its name derives from its origins on the Pacific Coast, but today it has members all over the country and the world...
, a science and science-education nonprofit based in San Francisco.
A number of articles Musser solicited and edited have appeared in The Best American Science Writing
The Best American Science Writing
The Best American Science Writing is a yearly anthology of popular science magazine articles published in the United States. It was started in 2000 and published by Harper Perennial...
and The Best American Science & Nature Writing anthologies. He was the originator and one of the lead editors for the single-topic issue “A Matter of Time,” Scientific American (Sept. 2002), which won a National Magazine Award
National Magazine Award
The National Magazine Awards are a series of US awards that honor excellence in the magazine industry. They are administered by the American Society of Magazine Editors and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York City...
for editorial excellence, and he coordinated the single topic issue “Crossroads for Planet Earth,” Scientific American (Sept. 2005), which won a Global Media Award from the Population Institute and was a National Magazine Award finalist. In 2010, Musser won the Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award
Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award
The Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award was established by the Division for Planetary Sciences to recognize and stimulate distinguished popular writing on planetary sciences. The winning author will receive a prize of $1,000 plus a citation. The award is named after science...
from the Division for Planetary Sciences
Division for Planetary Sciences
The Division for Planetary Sciences is a division within the American Astronomical Society devoted to solar system research. It was founded in 1968. The first organizing committee members were: Edward Anders, L. Branscomb, J. W. Chamberlain, R. Goody, J. S. Hall, A. Kliore, M. B. Elroy, Tobias...
for his science writing on planetary sciences. In 2011, Musser won the Science Writing Award
Science writing award
The American Institute of Physics institute their Science Writing Award to "promote effective science communication in print and broadcast media in order to improve the general public's appreciation of physics, astronomy, and allied science fields." The winner receives $3000, and an engraved...
from the American Institute of Physics
American Institute of Physics
The American Institute of Physics promotes science, the profession of physics, publishes physics journals, and produces publications for scientific and engineering societies. The AIP is made up of various member societies...
for his article "Could Time End?" in the September 2010 issue of Scientific American.
External links
- http://www.strings.musser.com/Strings/Welcome.html
- Solar at Home blog