John Bockris

John O'Mara Bockris (born January 5, 1923, in South Africa[1]) is a former professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M University whose unorthodox views have provoked controversy. He has authored, coauthored or edited more than 700 papers and 22 books principally in electrochemistry but also in environmental chemistry, photoelectrochemistry and bioelectrochemistry. His two volume Modern Electrochemistry (second edition) Plenum, (2000) is commonly used in colleges.[2] In the 1990s, he experimented with cold fusion.

Contents

Early work

John Bockris earned his B.Sc (1943) from Brighton Technical College, Ph.d. (1945) and D.Sc (1952) degrees in electrochemistry from Imperial College, London (1945–1953). He moved to USA in 1953 to join the University of Pennsylvania as Professor of Chemistry (1953–1971).[3]

In 1970, Bockris, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said he had found a method for using sunlight to free hydrogen from water and coined the term "hydrogen economy" to describe the application of the anticipated technology. In 1975 he published Energy The Solar-Hydrogen Alternative.[4] In 1982, at Texas A&M, he announced a "quantum leap" in his hydrogen-fuel technology through a "secret catalyst" that split water into hydrogen and oxygen even without the energy of sunlight. In 1984, he said he had found a material that facilitated complete conversion of sunlight to electricity. All of these "discoveries" were eventually attributed to basic errors in his research, although Bockris himself never acknowledged his mistakes.[1]

The scientific activity of John Bockris was acknowledged with prestigious international awards, such as, e.g., the Faraday Medal of the Chemical Society of Great Britain in 1979, the ACS Award in Contemporary Technology in 1988, the Honorary Degree in Law at the Hokkaido University in 1991, the Linford Medal of the America Electrochemical Society for “excellence in teaching” in 1995, just to mention some of them. [1]

Cold fusion

Bockris experimented in cold fusion after the 1989 Pons and Fleischmann affair. Bockris' research group was one of the early few to report results that matched those of Pons and Fleischmann. They were the first to report tritium production in similar experiments.[5] Gary Taubes wrote an editorial in Science suggesting that their cells might have been spiked with tritiated water.[6] A 3-professor panel of Texas A&M later found that none of the experiments were fraudulently conducted, saying that spiking was unlikely because scientists got different results when they tested the spiking theory by intentionally putting tritium in water.[7] John Bockris later published his side of the controversy and a defense of academic freedom in Accountability in Research.[8]

Transmutation

In 1993, Bockris claimed to be experimenting with the transmutation of elements, specifically of base metals into gold. The scientist received a fair amount of media attention for these extraordinary claims, and other professors felt Texas A&M's reputation was suffering from the connection to the discredited "science" of alchemy. An editorial by Mike Epstein in the Journal of Scientific Exploration describes what happened next:

A petition signed by 23 of the 28 distinguished professors at Texas A&M called on the university provost to strip Bockris of his title as distinguished professor. The petition follows a letter written by 11 full professors in the chemistry department (out of the department's 38 full professors) calling on Bockris to resign and remove the "shadow" he has cast over the department. The petition from the distinguished professors said "For a trained scientist to claim, or support anyone else's claim to have transmuted elements is difficult for us to believe and is no more acceptable than to claim to have invented a gravity shield, revived the dead or to be mining green cheese on the moon. We believe that Bockris' recent activities have made the terms 'Texas A&M' and 'Aggie' objects of derisive laughter throughout the world..."[9]

Epstein's conclusion, however, was a defense of academic freedom:[9]

However, I would remind those who seek his ouster or demotion that their actions threaten the core of academic freedom. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, but no one should be punished for attempting to provide that proof.

The petition failed, and Dr. Bockris was eventually absolved by a four-professor panel of violating Texas A&M standards in proposing, conducting or reporting controversial research.[10]

In 1997, Bockris was awarded an Ig Nobel Prize in the field of Physics for his work in cold fusion.[11]

Bockris retired from his professorship at Texas A&M in 1997 at the age of 74.

In 1998 John Bokris was awarded the IAHE's first Jules Verne Award.[2]

Publications

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Brian Wallstin, "Aggie Alchemy: John Bockris was known around Texas A&M as a chemist interested in "weird science." Joe Champion gave him all he could handle.", Houston Press, April 7, 1994
  2. ^ S. Krivit, N. Winocur, "The rebirth of cold fusion", Pacific Oak Press, 2004, page 179
  3. ^ S. Krivit, N. Winocur, "The rebirth of cold fusion", Pacific Oak Press, 2004, page 178
  4. ^ 1975 Energy The Solar-Hydrogen Alternative - ISBN 0470084294
  5. ^ Packham, N.J.C., et al., Production of tritium from D2O electrolysis at a palladium cathode. J. Electroanal. Chem., 1989. 270: p. 451., cited by Storms, "Science of Low Energy Nuclear Reaction: A Comprehensive Compilation of Evidence and Explanations", page 82, 2007, Singapore: World Scientific, ISBN 9-8127062-0-8.
  6. ^ Taubes, Gary (1990), "Cold fusion conundrum at Texas A&M", Science 248 (15 June 1990): 1299, Bibcode 1990Sci...248.1299T, doi:10.1126/science.248.4961.1299, PMID 17735269 
  7. ^ New York Times (1990-11-20), "Texas Panel Finds No Fraud In Cold Fusion Experiments", New York Times (November 20, 1990), http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9C0CE1DA143EF933A15752C1A966958260, retrieved 2009-09-24 
  8. ^ Bockris, J., Accountability and academic freedom: The battle concerning research on cold fusion at Texas A&M University. Accountability Res., 2000. 8: p. 103.
  9. ^ a b "Academic Freedom or Scientific Misconduct?", editorial by Mike Epstein, Journal of Scientific Exploration
  10. ^ Report: Committee of inquiry. Re: Allegation of Scientific Misconduct against J. O'M Bockris, January 31, 1994. Texas A&M university, Office of the Vice President for Research and Associate Provost for Graduate Studies.
  11. ^ William J. Cromie, "Ignominious Ig Nobels Ignite Hilarity at Harvard", Harvard University Gazette, October 16, 1997

Sources

Further reading