Walter Seager Sullivan, Jr (January 18, 1918 – March 19, 1996) was considered the "dean" of science writers.

Sullivan spent most of his career as a science reporter for the New York Times. Over a 50-year career he covered all aspects of science — Antarctic expeditions, rocket launchings in the late 1950s, physic

Physic

Physic may also refer to:*Physics, the study of matter, motion, and energy*Medicine, the science of healing*A type of Herb garden used for remedial purposes.*A professorship at either Cambridge or Dublin...

s, chemistry

Chemistry

Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....

, and geology

Geology

Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...

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He wrote several well-received books, including Assault on the Unknown about the International Geophysical Year

International Geophysical Year

The International Geophysical Year was an international scientific project that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. It marked the end of a long period during the Cold War when scientific interchange between East and West was seriously interrupted...

; We are not alone, a bestseller about the search for extraterrestrial intelligence; Continents in Motion; Black Holes: the Edge of the Space, the End of Time; and Landprints. Sullivan won nearly every award open to a science journalist, including the Daly Medal of the American Geographical Society, the George Polk Award, the Distinguished Public Service Award of the 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...

, the AIP 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...

; the James T. Grady-James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public

James T. Grady-James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry

The James T. Grady-James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public is awarded on a yearly basis by the American Chemical Society. The Award recognizes outstanding reporting on chemistry, chemical engineering, and related chemical fields...

 from the American Chemical Society

American Chemical Society

The American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...

, and 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...

. In 1980 Sullivan was awarded the Public Welfare Medal

Public Welfare Medal

The Public Welfare Medal is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "in recognition of distinguished contributions in the application of science to the public welfare." It is the most prestigious honor conferred by the Academy...

 from 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...

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The American Geophysical Union named its science journalism award after Sullivan.