Walter C. Michels (1906–1975) was an Emeritus Professor of Physics at

Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr College ( ; Welsh: ) is a women's liberal arts college in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Founded as a Quaker institution in 1885, Bryn Mawr is one of the Seven Sister colleges, a group of elite, historically women's colleges in the United St ...

. He was chairman of the department of physics at Bryn Mawr from 1936 to 1970. He was named emeritus professor in 1972.

Early life and education

Michels grew up in Utica, New York. Michels earned a degree in

electrical engineering Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...

from

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute () (RPI) is a private research university in Troy, New York, with an additional campus in Hartford, Connecticut. A third campus in Groton, Connecticut closed in 2018. RPI was established in 1824 by Stephen Van ...

in 1927 and a Ph.D. from the

California Institute of Technology The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech or CIT)The university itself only spells its short form as "Caltech"; the institution considers other spellings such a"Cal Tech" and "CalTech" incorrect. The institute is also occasional ...

Career

He was a fellow of the National Research Council from 1930 to 1932 at

Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...

. In 1932 he left Princeton for Bryn Mawr. He became chairman of the department of physics in 1936, and held that position until 1970. During World War II, Michels directed the Mine Warfare Operational Research group. In 1972 he was made emeritus professor of physics. In 1960 he became the chairman of the Commission on College Physics until 1964. He was also a president of the

American Association of Physics Teachers The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) was founded in 1930 for the purpose of "dissemination of knowledge of physics, particularly by way of teaching." There are more than 10,000 members in over 30 countries. AAPT publications includ ...

from 1956 to 1957.

Honors

In 1964 Michels won the

Oersted Medal The Oersted Medal recognizes notable contributions to the teaching of physics. Established in 1936, it is awarded by the American Association of Physics Teachers. The award is named for Hans Christian Ørsted. It is the Association's most prestig ...

of the AAPT.

Author

Michels was an editor of the ''

American Journal of Physics The ''American Journal of Physics'' is a monthly, peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Association of Physics Teachers and the American Institute of Physics. The editor-in-chief is Beth Parks of Colgate University."Current Fre ...

'' from 1959 to 1966 and also the International Dictionary of Physics and Electronics. He is an author and co-author of several physics books, and a contributor to research on psycho-physics.

Death

He died of a heart attack on 27 February 1975.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Michels, Walter C. 1906 births 1975 deaths Bryn Mawr College faculty People from Utica, New York Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute alumni California Institute of Technology alumni Fellows of the American Physical Society