Alexander J. Dessler
| Alexander J. Dessler | |
|---|---|
| File:AJDessler Rice.jpgFile: AJDessler_Rice.jpg | |
| Born | 1928 (age 97–98) San Francisco, California, United States |
| 🏡 Residence | United States |
| 🏳️ Nationality | USA |
| 🎓 Alma mater | California Institute of Technology, Duke University |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Earth's Magnetosphere; Jupiter's Magnetosphere; Founding Chairman of the Department of Space Science, Rice University. |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Lorraine Barbara Dessler |
| 🏅 Awards | Macelwane Medal; Fleming Medal, Arctowski Medal |
Alexander J. Dessler (born 1928) is a space scientist and emeritus professor of Space Physics and Astronomy at Rice University. His research subject areas are magnetospheric physics, planetary magnetospheres, primarily of Jupiter and Planetary science. He was the founding chair of the Department of Space Science at Rice University, later known as the Department of Space Physics and Astronomy.
Early life and education
Dessler was born October 21, 1928, in San Francisco, California. He received a B.S. in Physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1952 and a Ph.D in Physics from Duke University in 1956.
Career
Dessler began his career working for Lockheed Missiles and Space Company. In 1963, Dessler came to Rice University to found the country's first "space science" department, bringing together scientists and researchers in astronomy, astrophysics, atmospheric sciences, and the nascent field of space physics. Dessler served three terms as chair of the department over the course of his career and retired emeritus in 1992.
In 1993, Dessler took a research scientist position at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona. In 2007, he became an adjunct at Texas A&M University. He is now fully retired.
Personal life
Dessler and his wife Lorraine had four children, including Texas A & M atmospheric scientist Andrew Dessler.
Awards and honors
- 1963 - American Geophysical Union Macelwane Medal.[1] This also was the occasion of being named Fellow of the American Geophysical Union[2]
- 1993 - American Geophysical Union John Adam Fleming Medal Winner[3]
- 2015 - National Academy of Sciences Arctowski Medal[4]
Publications
Books authored
Physics of the Jovian Magnetosphere. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1983. ISBN 9780521520065. Search this book on 
Selected articles
Dessler, A. J., Early History of Rice University Space Science Department (2014), retrieved from http://space.rice.edu/alumni/pdf/rice_space_science_history.pdf Archived 2019-10-18 at the Wayback Machine Dessler, A. J. and E. N. Parker, Hydromagnetic theory of geomagnetic storms, J. Geophys. Res., 64, p. 2239-2252, 1959, doi: 10.1029/JZ064i012p02239
Dessler, A. J. and E. N. Parker, Hydromagnetic theory of geomagnetic storms, J. Geophys. Res., 64, p. 2239-2252, 1959.
Dessler, A. J., Solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field, Rev. Geophys., 5, p. 1-41, 1967.
Hill, T. W. and A. J. Dessler, Plasma motions in planetary magnetospheres, Science, 252, p 410-415, 1991.
Hill, T. W., A. J. Dessler, and F. C. Michel, Configuration of the Jovian magnetosphere, Geophys. Res Let., 1, p 3-6, 1974.
Dessler, A. J., The Role of Space Science in Graduate Education, EOS, 49, no. 3, American Geophysical Union, 1968.
Dessler, A. J., The Role of Basic Research in Universities, EOS, 50, p 508-511, American Geophysical Union, 1969.
References
- ↑ "AJ Dessler Macelwane". American Geophysical Union (AGU).
- ↑ "AJ Dessler AGU Fellow". American Geophysical Union (AGU).
- ↑ "AJ Dessler Fleming". American Geophysical Union (AGU).
- ↑ "AJ Dessler Arctowski" (PDF). National Academy of Science (NAS).
