Goodstein, David Louis (Physicist)

Dates

• Existence: 1939 - 2222

Biographical/Historical

Background: Caltech Vice Provost, 1987-. Frank J. Gilloon Distinguished Teaching and Service Professor, 1995-. Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, 1976-. Associate Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, 1975-76. Assistant and Associate Professor, 1967-1975. Research Fellow, 1965-1966.

Biographical/Historical

Description: DAVID L. GOODSTEIN was born April 5, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Brooklyn College (BS physics, 1960) and the University of Washington (PhD physics, 1965). After joining Caltech's low-temperature physics group in 1966, he continued his research and teaching there, with regular trips to Italy to collaborate with colleagues at the University of Rome. At Caltech he played a role in the establishment of the program in applied physics. He has held several administrative positions, notably that of Vice Provost, beginning in 1987. Goodstein is the creator of the award-winning physics telecourse The Mechanical Universe. A strong advocate for science education, he is a prolific writer of both technical and non-technical articles, reviews, Op-Ed pieces and books. Some of these are: Feynman's Lost Lecture (with Judith R. Goodstein,1996) and Out of Gas: The End of the Age of Oil (2004). Goodstein is the recipient of the Oersted Medal of the American Assoc. of Physics Teachers (1998) and the John P. McGovern Science and Society Award of Sigma Xi (1999).

Biographical/Historical

Collection Notes: Oral history, 2002: This 113-page interview with Shelley Erwin covers his education, his recruitment to Caltech by J. Mercereau to join new low-temperature physics group; the beginning of his scientific association in 1966 with the University of Rome's structure of matter group. He recalls the establishment of the applied physics option at Caltech; discusses the administration and governance of Caltech, including his many contributions to and roles within the same, culminating in Vice Provost (1987). He discusses his physics telecourse The Mechanical Universe. Reminiscences of Caltech colleagues, especially R. Feynman.

Papers, 24 linear ft. and digital files. Includes scientific correspondence, technical files, teaching materials, administrative files; also supplemental files to The Mechanical Universe collection (previously donated). Unprocessed.

Found in 27 Collections and/or Records: