Insider notes on the International Geophysical Year

Abstract

Fae Korsmo’s article (Physics Today, Physics Today 0031-9228 60 7 2007 38 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2761801. July 2007, page 38 ) on the genesis of the International Geophysical Year does a good job of covering the international scientific relationships that gave birth to the idea. But there were two other achievements without which the IGY would not have attracted the favorable public support or the congressional appropriations, both of which were essential to the fame and success of the IGY and would lead to the Antarctic Treaty. I learned about them through long-ago personal conversations with Walter Sullivan and Joseph Kaplan, who were instrumental in IGY preparations.Fae does reference Walter’s fine book on the IGY. But how did he go from being the New York Times political correspondent in Austria to becoming the paper’s—and maybe the country’s—best science writer, with a deep commitment to the IGY? He had no background in science beyond a keen interest in how violins are made. Walter told me that when he asked the Times to bring him home so his kids could go to US schools, his employer said, “No. You are too important to us where you are.” Then one day he saw a notice that the newspaper was looking for a science writer to cover the story of the IGY. None of the other writers on staff seemed interested in going to the ice. But Walter saw his best chance to get his family back home, so he volunteered to go to Antarctica and try being a science writer. He stayed with the story, broadened his great skills into all areas of science, and brought Antarctic science and the IGY to the front page of the New York Times. But what about the money to support US scientists in their Antarctic work? The National Academy of Sciences’ IGY history reminds us of Joe’s role (not mentioned in the Physics Today piece): “American participation in the IGY was charged to a US National Committee (USNC) appointed in March 1953 by the NAS. Joseph Kaplan, Professor of Physics at UCLA, was appointed Chairman of the USNC.” 1 1. National Academies webpage, “The International Geophysical Year,” http://www7.nationalacademies.org/archives/igyhistory.html. When NSF went to Congress to get the needed appropriation, it faced considerable skepticism. The duty fell on Joe to invite the key congressman to lunch. Joe told me that no amount of passionate argument about the merits of Antarctic science was persuasive. Finally, he decided he had to find a subject his lunch partner was interested in. The congressman’s favorite subject turned out to be college football. Joe jumped at the opportunity. “Did you know that I am chairman of the UCLA faculty committee on athletics?” he asked. After a half hour of college football stories, the congressman said, “Joe, you sound like a regular fellow. What is this project you need money for?” His support for the IGY appropriation turned the tide, and the IGY was off and running.REFERENCESection:ChooseTop of pageREFERENCE <<1. National Academies webpage, “The International Geophysical Year,” http://www7.nationalacademies.org/archives/igyhistory.html. Google Scholar© 2008 American Institute of Physics.