Oral history interview with Wallace S. Broecker, 1997.

Biographical Note

Geochemist.

Scope and Contents

Childhood: Oak Park, IL; family; struggle with dyslexia; religious activities; Wheaton College, 1949-52; Columbia University [CU] 1952; J. Laurence Kulp; issues of scientific integrity; comparison of Wheaton College and CU; CU geology department courses and professors; early publications; geophysics and geochemistry at Lamont Geological Observatory (LGO); tensions between Bruce Heezen and Maurice W. Ewing, Ewing’s intellectual and political domination of LGO; impressions of Jaques Barzun; attitudes of CU towards science and Lamont-Doherty earth Observatory (LDEO); CU faculty senate member; sterling Forest initiative; Ewing’s departure from Lamont; National Science Foundation (NSF) oceanographic research funding, 1960s-70s; Captain Henry Kohler; experiences onboard Vema; LDEO biology programs of mid-1950s; tree ring project ; abrupt climate change research; Milankovich cycles; CLIMAP and GEOSECS programs; NSF and Feenan Jennings’ fund administration.

Subjects

• Broecker, Wallace S., 1931-2019--Interviews.
• Columbia University.
• Doel, Ronald, interviewer.--http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/ivr
• Ewing, W. Maurice (William Maurice), 1906-1974.
• Interviews.
• Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
• Oceanography--Research.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Vema (Ship)

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 1998