William G. Pollard

Infobox Scientist
name = William G. Pollard
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caption = Eleanor Roosevelt (center) and Dr. William Pollard watch as Nurse Mary Sutliff demonstrates a radiation counter during Roosevelt's 1955 visit to the Oak Ridge cancer research hospital. (Photo by Ed Westcott)
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field = Physicist
work_institutions = Oak Ridge Associated Universities
alma_mater = Rice University
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known_for = Manhattan Project
Science and Religion
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religion = Anglican
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William Grosvenor Pollard (b. 1911; d. 1989) was a physicist and priest. He started his career as a professor of physics in 1936 at University of Tennessee. In 1946 he championed the organization of the the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies (ORINS). He was its executive director until 1974. He was ordained as a priest in 1954. He authored and co-authored a significant number of books. He was sometimes referred to as the "atomic deacon." [*" [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,815003,00.html Atomic Deacon] ", Time magazine article, Monday, June 18, 1951] [ [http://books.google.com/books?tab=sp&sa=N&hl=en&q=%22atomic+deacon%22&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N Biography Index H.W. Wilson Company] Bea Joseph, SilverPlatter International, H.W. Wilson Company, 1953, p.778 ] In 1974 Phillip L. Johnson succeeded Pollard as the executive director of Oak Ridge Associated Universities [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40A13FA3A5F107A93C1AB178DD85F408785F9&scp=22&sq=%22William%20G.%20Pollard%22&st=cse "Oak Ridge Post Filled"] , June 23, 1974, Sunday, New York Times, Section: GN, Page 22, 79 words ] .

Life

He was born in Batavia, NY. His father, a mining engineer, moved the family to Knoxville, Tennessee when Pollard was twelve. Pollard had been raised in the Episcopal faith, but in high-school ventured into the Unitarian Church. After three years, he also gave that up. After marriage in 1932, he again began to attend Episcopal services. He received an A.B. from University of Tennessee in 1932; an M.A. and Ph.D. from Rice University in 1934 and 1935, respectively. His thesis was entitled "On the Theory of Beta-Ray Type of Radio-active Disintegration." *" [http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1954/02/06/1954_02_06_037_TNY_CARDS_000242351 A Deacon at Oak Ridge] ", Daniel Lang, The New Yorker, February 6, 1954, p. 37, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48-55 ] In 1936 he joined the University of Tennessee as a faculty member, becoming a full professor in 1943.

Manhattan Project

In 1944 under the cover of Columbia University's Special Alloys and Metals Laboratory, he was asked to join the Manhattan Project. He did research on a gaseous diffusion extraction method of U-235 from common uranium. He intially worked at Columbia University's Pupin Physics Laboratories.

Ordination

He was ordained on Ember Wednesday, December 17th, 1952. His four sons, then aged 10 to 17, served as acolytes. Numerous scientists and employees from Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies attended along with several reporters and photographers.

Position on the relation of religion and science

Pollard's position on the relation of religion and science involves God acting through quantum indeterminacy. His position is thought to be similar to that of Karl Heim, J.J. Thomson, Arthur Compton, George Thomson, E. T. Whittaker, and Eric Mascall. [ " [http://books.google.com/books?id=xLJL_MBmUkQC Divine Action and Modern Science] ", Nicholas Saunders, 2002, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-5215-2416-4, pp. xv, 94-125 ]

Continuing influence

The book "The Frontiers of Science & Faith: Examining Questions from the Big Bang to the End of the Universe" (2002) credits Pollard in making important contributions to a significant train of thought on religion and quantum indeterminacy that has led to futher ideas about religion and chaos theory. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=fsJ0XJIQ2iwC "The Frontiers of Science & Faith"] , John Jefferson Davis, Published by InterVarsity Press, 2002, ISBN 0830826645, 199 pages, pp. 39, 78-79 ] Chapter 5 of Divine Action and Modern Science (Cambridge University Press, 2002) is divided into three sections: "Pre-Pollard quantum SDA", "William Pollard", and "Post-Pollard quantum SDA".

Fiftieth anniversary of Kent School

At an ecumenical seminary held in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of Kent School (1955), Pollard was one of eight distinguished speakers giving talks on "The Christian Idea of Education". According to acting "New York Times" reporter Edward N. West, a Canon of New York Cathedral St. John the Divine and author of "Mediations on the Gospel of St. John", "the speakers were as distinguished as authentic Christianity produces." Other speakers included Princeton University historian and Presbyterian layman E. Harris Harbison, "Cry, The Beloved Country" author and Anglican layman Alan Paton, Professor of Liturgics and Episcopal priest Massey H. Shepherd, Roman Catholic priest John Courtney Murray, Roman Catholic layman and then professor emeritus of Princeton University Jacques Maritain, Russian Orthodox priest and then Harvard University professor Georges Florovsky, and Protestant theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. According to Canon West, "These contributors are so excellent, the thinking on so high a level, that any intelligent reader will be excited. The Christian position has never been better stated." Pollard and Edmund Fuller co-edited the results of this seminary, which were published as "The Christian idea of education: papers and discussions" (Yale University Press, 1958). [ * [http://books.google.com/books?id=BYkfAAAAMAAJ&pgis=1 "The Christian idea of education: papers and discussions"] , co-authored with Edmund Fuller (1958), Yale University Press ] [ Canon Edward N. West, August 11, 1957, Sunday, The New York Times Book Review, Page 201, 621 words, "At the Heart of Every Age There Must Be an Inspiring Idea" ]

Published works

* [http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=AJPIAS000020000005000281000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes "The Significance of Complementarity for the Life Sciences American Journal of Physics"] , American Journal of Physics, May 1952, Volume 20, Issue 5, pp. 281-288
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=BYkfAAAAMAAJ&pgis=1 "The Christian idea of education: papers and discussions"] , co-edited with Edmund Fuller (1958), Yale University Press:

Dr. Pollard, the Chairman, added: "The purpose of this seminar is to examine and identifiy in a fundamental fashion the peculiar characteristics of the educational processes and objectives which constitute the Christian idea of education. The emphasis will not be on religious perspectives in teaching, nor on the problems of the Christian teacher, but will rather be concerned with education in its entirety from a Christian viewpoint. [ page viii of "The Christian idea of education: papers and discussions" ]

* [http://books.google.com/books?id=-fFBAAAAIAAJ&pgis=1 "Schools and Scholarship: The Christian Idea of Education: Part 2"] , co-edited with Edmund Fuller (1962), Yale University Press:

The formal addresses by the university professors are, by and large, re-enactments of the ritual of Loving One's Subject. They are eloquent pleas, on behalf of this, that or the other discipline, for a greater share in the students' time. Most of the real moments of constructive excitement come in the discussions. ...There are two startling exceptions to the generalization about the contribution of the universtiy people. These exceptons are the scientists. The most exquisite statement of what the process of education should be is not to be found amid the majestic vivacity of the humanists but in the conversational, almost casual speech by Edward Teller, the physicist. The most acute and moving theology is contributed by the Executive Director of the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, the Rev. William G. Pollard. Their utterances explain why it has been, of all things, the dramatic demands of science on the high-school curricula that have, after thirty-five years of stagnation, at last produced the beginnings of a new humanism in American education. [ "The Word in Education", Review of "Schools and Scholarship: The Christian Idea of Education: Part 2" (1962), Donald Barr, New York Times, Sept. 9, 1962 ]

* [http://books.google.com/books?id=IykaAAAAMAAJ&pgis=1 "The Hebrew Iliad : the history of the rise of Israel under Saul and David : written during the reign of Solomon probably by the priest Ahimaaz"] , co-authored with Robert Henry Pfeiffer, Harper (1957)
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=HQMjHgAACAAJ "Chance and providence: God's action in a world governed by scientific law"] , Faber and Faber and Charles Scribner's Sons, (1958) ( [http://www.archive.org/details/chanceandprovide028224mbp full text] )
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=Fm8rAAAAIAAJ&pgis=1 "Physicist and Christian: a dialogue between the communities"] (1st published 1961; 2nd pub. 1964), Seabury Press ( [http://www.archive.org/details/physicistandchri027533mbp full text] )
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=gzhDAAAAIAAJ&pgis=1 "Atomic energy and southern science; the impact of the Nation's atomic energy program on the development of science and technology in the South since 1946"] , Oak Ridge Associated Universities (1966)
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=t8yXGAAACAAJ "Science and faith: twin mysteries"] , T. Nelson (1970)
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=2K-iGQAACAAJ "The mystery of matter"] , U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (1970)
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=YDccAAAAMAAJ&pgis=1 "Transcendence and providence : reflections of a physicist and priest"] , Scottish Academic Press (1986), ISBN 0707304865
* [http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=7249851 Long-range prospects for solar-derived fuels] , American Scientist, Vol/Issue: 64:5, 1976 Jan 01
* "The Recovery of Theological Perspective in a Scientific Age" (pp.22-43) in [http://books.google.com/books?id=7Ch4AAAACAAJ "Religion and the University"] (1964) Edited by Jaroslav Pelikan, University of Toronto Press
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=kVuoGAAACAAJ "The Moral Implications of Energy: It's Production, Distribution and Use"] , By William G Pollard, Frederick S Carney, Thomas J. Reese, Published by America Press, 1981, (published as special issue of Catholic Mind October 1981)
* "The Faith of a Physicist" in [http://books.google.com/books?id=ZomNGQAACAAJ Modern Canterbury Pilgrims: The Story of Twenty-three Converts and why They Chose the Anglican Communion] , James Albert Pike, Stephen Neill, Wystan Hugh Auden, New York, Mowbray, London: Morehouse-Gorham, 1956, 317 pages:Review of book in Time Magazine: [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,937410,00.html Travelers at Home] , Monday, May. 28, 1956
* "Creation by Alternative Histories", Chapter 16 of " [http://books.google.com/books?id=POanAAAACAAJ Science, Faith, and Revelation: An Approach to Christian Philosophy] " (A festschrift for Eric Rust), Bob E. Patterson, Eric Charles Rust, Broadman Press, 1979, ISBN 0805418091, 371 pages

Articles about him

* [http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=P040 His biography] at the "Tennessee Encyclopedia"
*" [http://www.orau.org/about/history/pollard.htm The Founder of ORAU] " at Oak Ridge Associated Universities Website
*" [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,862704,00.html Find the Balance] ", Time magazine article, Monday, August 26, 1957
*" [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,815809,00.html Lessons from Oakridge] ", Time magazine article, Monday, January 07, 1952
*" [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,815003,00.html Atomic Deacon] ", Time magazine article, Monday, June 18, 1951
*Edward N. West, August 11, 1957, Sunday, Section: The New York Times Book Review, Page 201, 621 words, "At the Heart of Every Age There Must Be an Inspiring Idea"
*" [http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1954/02/06/1954_02_06_037_TNY_CARDS_000242351 A Deacon at Oak Ridge] ", Daniel Lang, The New Yorker, February 6, 1954, p. 37
* Pollard gets mention in Will Herberg's "Protestant, Catholic, Jew: An Essay in American Religious Sociology" (University of Chicago Press, 1953).

ee also

Physicist and Christian

References