Richard E. Berendzen
Encyclopedia
Dr. Richard E. Berendzen (born in Walters, Oklahoma
, in 1938) is an American
scientist
.
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT), and MA
and Ph.D
degrees from Harvard University
in 1967. He served as Carl Sagan
's teaching assistant. He also has been awarded seven honorary doctoral degrees.
. He is a proponent of the scientific search for extraterrestrial life (SETI
). He feels that there is a tremendous need to make more people aware of the difference between real science and blatant pseudo-science. Also, he is active in efforts to increase educational opportunities for girls and minorities, especially to educate them better in science and technology.
and astronomy
faculty at Boston University
, he became astronomy department chairman in 1971. Two years later he spent his sabbatical leave doing research at the National Academy of Sciences
, American Council on Education, and Library of Congress
.
, Washington, D.C.
, as a professor
and dean
of the College of Arts and Sciences. He then became the university provost
, the chief academic officer. In 1980 Berendzen became AU's eleventh president.
In the 1980s at AU, several large buildings were constructed or acquired, including a residence hall, pavilion, arena, aquatic center, and an entire additional campus. The men's soccer team reached the National Collegiate Athletic Association
title game, and a $100 million Capital Campaign was launched in anticipation of AU's centennial. The university's endowment and financial status improved. The General Education Program and Honors Program took shape and became key features. University-wide awards to faculty, students, and staff became an annual, distinguished tradition. While these tangible achievements were reached, the academic quality, admissions standards, and reputation of the university also rose markedly.
charge, but was sentenced to two thirty-day suspended terms and directed to continue therapy. Earlier, he had checked himself into Johns Hopkins Hospital
. Three years later he published a book addressing the calls and his experience as a victim of child molestation. Eventually he would return to American University in a teaching role.
's Space Grant Consortium for Washington, D.C., and he is a Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
.
His courses include astronomy
and the history of science
. He is credited as being one of the most influential and inspirational professors by many of his students.
In February 2006, Dr. Berendzen announced that in August 2006 he would retire as a full-time faculty member. He then will become Professor Emeritus and continue as Director of NASA's Space Grant Consortium for Washington, D.C.
Berendzen was cast as the narrator in Mike Cahill
's 2011 sci-fi feature Another Earth
.
appointed him chairman of the "Commission on the Budget and Financial Priorities of the District of Columbia," an analysis and report to the mayors, the D.C. City Council
, and the U.S. Congress. He was an advisor to the chief of police of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department.
Under auspices of the New York Academy of Sciences and the American Astronomical Society, he organized and chaired a major international conference: "Education in and History of Modern Astronomy." With NASA
support, he organized and chaired two other key conferences: "Life Beyond Earth and the Mind of Man" (at Boston University
) and "Space 2000" (at American University
). Proceedings of the Boston University
conference were published by NASA (sp-318), and video of it became the core of a TV program narrated by Orson Welles
: "Who's Out There?" Through a joint venture of the US National Archives and Google
, the digital video is part of the Archives' free online collection.
Dr. Berendzen chaired the American Council on Education's Committee on Foreign Student Policy, served on the Marshall Scholarship
Advisory Council of the United Kingdom
, was a consultant to NASA, served on NASA's Exploration Advisory Task Force and Selection Panel for the Teacher-in-Space Program, is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
and the Washington Academy of Sciences, and has testified about space and education before the United States Congress
and the Parliament of the United Kingdom
.
He has served on numerous boards; e.g., American Astronautical Society, American Association of Colleges, Business Council for International Understanding, Consortium of Universities of Metropolitan Washington Area, Federal City Council, Greater Washington Board of Trade
, Points of Light Foundation, Mentors, Inc., Orphan Foundation of America, BlueCross BlueShield of Greater Washington, the Planetary Society
.
Berendzen also has directed National Science Foundation
and NASA grants and has received awards for outstanding teaching, the most recent in spring 2006 at American University.
The International Platform Association gave him the Glenn T. Seaborg
Award for "Contributions to the American Public's Interest in Science."
He has been a commentator about science and education on WUSA-TV and WTOP
radio (Washington, D.C.) and NBC
(network), and a guest on numerous other radio and TV programs. He has given 1,900 invited lectures in the US and abroad.
Walters, Oklahoma
Walters is a city in Cotton County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,657 at the 2000 census. The city, nestled in between twin creeks, is the county seat of Cotton County...
, in 1938) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
.
Education
Berendzen received a BSBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from 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...
(MIT), and MA
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
and Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degrees from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1967. He served as Carl Sagan
Carl Sagan
Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, science popularizer and science communicator in astronomy and natural sciences. He published more than 600 scientific papers and articles and was author, co-author or editor of more than 20 books...
's teaching assistant. He also has been awarded seven honorary doctoral degrees.
Scientific philosophy
Berendzen believes that science fact, if presented well, can be far more engaging than science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. He is a proponent of the scientific search for extraterrestrial life (SETI
SETI
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence is the collective name for a number of activities people undertake to search for intelligent extraterrestrial life. Some of the most well known projects are run by the SETI Institute. SETI projects use scientific methods to search for intelligent life...
). He feels that there is a tremendous need to make more people aware of the difference between real science and blatant pseudo-science. Also, he is active in efforts to increase educational opportunities for girls and minorities, especially to educate them better in science and technology.
Academic career prior to American University
Joining the physicsPhysics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
faculty at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, he became astronomy department chairman in 1971. Two years later he spent his sabbatical leave doing research at the 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...
, American Council on Education, and Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
.
Academic career at American University
In 1974 Berendzen went to American UniversityAmerican University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the College of Arts and Sciences. He then became the university provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
, the chief academic officer. In 1980 Berendzen became AU's eleventh president.
In the 1980s at AU, several large buildings were constructed or acquired, including a residence hall, pavilion, arena, aquatic center, and an entire additional campus. The men's soccer team reached the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
title game, and a $100 million Capital Campaign was launched in anticipation of AU's centennial. The university's endowment and financial status improved. The General Education Program and Honors Program took shape and became key features. University-wide awards to faculty, students, and staff became an annual, distinguished tradition. While these tangible achievements were reached, the academic quality, admissions standards, and reputation of the university also rose markedly.
Scandal
In 1990, Berendzen resigned as president of American University after a woman who received indecent calls complained to police, who traced the calls to his office. Berendzen received no fine or community service requirements for this misdemeanorMisdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
charge, but was sentenced to two thirty-day suspended terms and directed to continue therapy. Earlier, he had checked himself into Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
. Three years later he published a book addressing the calls and his experience as a victim of child molestation. Eventually he would return to American University in a teaching role.
Current activities
Berendzen remains on the AU faculty as of 2005. He also is Director of NASANASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Space Grant Consortium for Washington, D.C., and he is a Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars , located in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential Memorial that was established as part of the Smithsonian Institution by an act of Congress in 1968...
.
His courses include astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and the history of science
History of science
The history of science is the study of the historical development of human understandings of the natural world and the domains of the social sciences....
. He is credited as being one of the most influential and inspirational professors by many of his students.
In February 2006, Dr. Berendzen announced that in August 2006 he would retire as a full-time faculty member. He then will become Professor Emeritus and continue as Director of NASA's Space Grant Consortium for Washington, D.C.
Berendzen was cast as the narrator in Mike Cahill
Mike Cahill (director)
Mike Cahill is an American film director and screenwriter.-Background:Mike Cahill was born in New Haven, Connecticut on 5 July 1979. His first forays into filmmaking were with Fisher-Price and VHS camcorders when he was young. After high school, Cahill studied economics at Georgetown University,...
's 2011 sci-fi feature Another Earth
Another Earth
Another Earth is a 2011 American science fantasy/drama film directed by Mike Cahill in his feature film debut. The film stars William Mapother and Brit Marling. It premiered at the 27th Sundance Film Festival in January 2011 and is being distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures.-Synopsis:Rhoda...
.
Past accomplishments
Two mayors of Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
appointed him chairman of the "Commission on the Budget and Financial Priorities of the District of Columbia," an analysis and report to the mayors, the D.C. City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, and the U.S. Congress. He was an advisor to the chief of police of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department.
Under auspices of the New York Academy of Sciences and the American Astronomical Society, he organized and chaired a major international conference: "Education in and History of Modern Astronomy." With NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
support, he organized and chaired two other key conferences: "Life Beyond Earth and the Mind of Man" (at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
) and "Space 2000" (at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
). Proceedings of the Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
conference were published by NASA (sp-318), and video of it became the core of a TV program narrated by Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
: "Who's Out There?" Through a joint venture of the US National Archives and Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
, the digital video is part of the Archives' free online collection.
Dr. Berendzen chaired the American Council on Education's Committee on Foreign Student Policy, served on the Marshall Scholarship
Marshall Scholarship
The Marshall Scholarship, a postgraduate scholarships available to Americans, was created by the Parliament of the United Kingdom when the Marshall Aid Commemoration Act was passed in 1953. The scholarships serve as a living gift to the United States of America in recognition of the post-World War...
Advisory Council of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, was a consultant to NASA, served on NASA's Exploration Advisory Task Force and Selection Panel for the Teacher-in-Space Program, is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
and the Washington Academy of Sciences, and has testified about space and education before the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
.
He has served on numerous boards; e.g., American Astronautical Society, American Association of Colleges, Business Council for International Understanding, Consortium of Universities of Metropolitan Washington Area, Federal City Council, Greater Washington Board of Trade
Greater Washington Board of Trade
The Greater Washington Board of Trade is a network of business and non-profit leaders in Washington, D.C.Since its creation in 1889, the Greater Washington Board of Trade has provided advocacy, research, and programs for the area's business community...
, Points of Light Foundation, Mentors, Inc., Orphan Foundation of America, BlueCross BlueShield of Greater Washington, the Planetary Society
Planetary Society
The Planetary Society is a large, publicly supported, non-government and non-profit organization that has many research projects related to astronomy...
.
Berendzen also has directed National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
and NASA grants and has received awards for outstanding teaching, the most recent in spring 2006 at American University.
The International Platform Association gave him the Glenn T. Seaborg
Glenn T. Seaborg
Glenn Theodore Seaborg was an American scientist who won the 1951 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for "discoveries in the chemistry of the transuranium elements", contributed to the discovery and isolation of ten elements, and developed the actinide concept, which led to the current arrangement of the...
Award for "Contributions to the American Public's Interest in Science."
He has been a commentator about science and education on WUSA-TV and WTOP
WTOP-FM
WTOP is an all-news formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Washington, D.C., serving Metropolitan Washington, DC area. WTOP is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting.WTOP is one of two all-news stations in the Washington, D.C...
radio (Washington, D.C.) and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
(network), and a guest on numerous other radio and TV programs. He has given 1,900 invited lectures in the US and abroad.
Writings
Berendzen has written several books and forty articles in scholarly journals. Among these are:- Pulp Physics: Astronomy; Human Kind in Space and Time (2003) ISBN 1-59007-355-X (audio book)
- Come Here: A Man Overcomes the Tragic Aftermath of Childhood Sexual Abuse (1993) ISBN 0-679-41777-X
- Touch the Future: An Agenda for Global Education in America (1988) ISBN 0-935641-02-5 (24-page pamphlet)
- Is My Armor Straight: A Year in the Life of a University President (1986) ISBN 0-917561-01-5
- Man Discovers the Galaxies (Berendzen with Richard Hart and Daniel Seeley)
- hardcover (1976) ISBN 0-88202-023-4
- paperback (1984) ISBN 0-231-05827-6
- other reprint (1984) ISBN 0-231-05826-8