George R. Rossman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
George R. Rossman | |
|---|---|
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| Born | August 3, 1944 La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | February 6, 2026 (aged 81) |
| Alma mater | |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | |
| Institutions | California Institute of Technology |
| Doctoral advisor | Harry B. Gray |
George Robert Rossman (August 3, 1944 – February 6, 2026) was an American mineralogist and academic who was the Professor of Mineralogy at the California Institute of Technology.
Rossman was born on August 3, 1944, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, but soon moved to Eau Claire. His father owned a dental laboratory.
He graduated as the salutatorian from high school in Eau Claire. In high school, he participated in the Wisconsin Junior Academy of Science competitions winning first place in the 1961 competition. He attended the Wisconsin State University–Eau Claire (now the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire) from 1962 to 1966 where he received a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in both Chemistry and Mathematics. He graduated summa cum laude, with honors in Chemistry. From there, he moved to Pasadena, California, where he obtained a PhD in chemistry from California Institute of Technology in 1971. He specialized in inorganic chemistry in the research group of Professor Harry B. Gray.[1]
Career
Teaching
At Caltech, Rossman regularly taught the introductory mineralogy course, a course in mineral spectroscopy, and a course in oral presentation. He supervised the optical mineralogy course, co-taught analytical methods in Geochemistry, and presented guest lectures in Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. He was recognized by students and faculty with the Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching.[3]
Research
Rossman studied mineral spectroscopy, water and hydroxide in nominally anhydrous solids, analytical methods for OH analysis in minerals, X-ray amorphous minerals, and the effects of exposure on minerals to background levels of natural radiation. Paul Asimow, describing Rossman's work, wrote, "Within the general rubric of mineral spectroscopy, Rossman's work can be grouped into three principal categories: the origin of color, the effects of natural and artificial radiation damage, and the concentration and crystal chemistry of hydrogen in minerals both hydrous and nominally anhydrous."[4] Based on the number of publications Rossman was the most published author in American Mineralogist according to Research.com.[5]
Death
Rossman died on February 6, 2026, at the age of 81.[6]
Honors
- 2024, a third mineral species in the tourmaline family, fluor-rossmanite, is named for its relationship to rossmanite, which was named after him.[7]
- 2021 awarded the Roebling Medal from the Mineralogical Society of America[8]
- 2020 A second mineral species of the tourmaline family, alumino-oxy-rossmanite, is named after rossmanite, which is named after him[9]
- 2014, awarded The Lifetime Excellence Award, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire[10]
- 2005, awarded The Friedrich-Becke Medal of the Austrian Mineralogical Society[11]
- 2004, awarded The Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching, California Institute of Technology[3]
- 2001, awarded the inaugural Dana Medal of the Mineralogical Society of America[12]
- 1998, a mineral species in the tourmaline family, rossmanite, is named after him[13]
- 1980, elected a Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America[14]
