Theme: Physics
John Gardner Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
August 13, 2014
John Gardner (b. 1939) was a member of the OSU Physics faculty from 1973-2001, during
which time he established himself as a world leader in perturbed angular correlation
spectroscopy, a discipline within the field of solid state physics. Afflicted with
poor vision from birth, Gardner lost all sight in 1988, when surgery to stem glaucoma
went awry. Gardner's blindness led to a shift in his research from solid state physics
to accessibility initiatives for low- or no-sight students and researchers in the
sciences. In 1996 he founded ViewPlus Technologies as a vehicle for developing and
marketing products that support this accessibility work. Gardner's interview focuses
on his upbringing and training, his career in solid state physics, the loss of his
sight, and the changes that his blindness brought about, both personally and professionally.
Al Parr Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
June 18, 2014
Al Parr (b. 1942) graduated from Oregon State in 1964 with bachelors degrees in Physics
and Mathematics, as well as decorations from the university's Honors Program. Parr
spent close to forty years working as a physicist, primarily for the National Institute
of Standards and Technology, where he specialized in radiometrics and optics. Parr
is also a rare book collector of consequence and a member of the OSU Libraries Advisory
Council. His interview focuses on his memories of Oregon State, his career in science,
and his passion for books.
Warren Washington Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
May 29, 2015
Warren Washington (b. 1936) earned two degrees from Oregon State College, completing
a B.S. in Physics in 1958 and, two years later, a M.S. in General Science with a concentration
on meteorology. Washington subsequently went on to a career at the National Center
for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) that has spanned more than five decades, a time period
during which he has established himself as a leading thinker on climate modeling.
An adviser to five different presidential administrations, Washington received the
2010 National Medal of Science for his achievements as a scientist and administrator.
Washington and his colleagues at NCAR also made fundamental contributions to the work
of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a body that was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize in 2007 for its efforts to create an "ever-broader informed consensus
about the connection between human activities and global warming." Washington's interview
focuses on his experience as an African American youth growing up in Oregon; the progression
of his research in the atmospheric sciences; his experiences operating in Washington,
D.C.; and his thoughts on the issue of climate change.