James Watson Croninis an American nuclear physicist... (wikipedia)
On even the worst days, when nothing was working at the lab, I knew that at home I would find warmth, peace, companionship, and encouragement. As a consequence, the next day would surely be better.
One of the greatest joys in my life was giving a lecture in French at the College de France.
I did a thesis in experimental nuclear physics under the direction of Samuel K. Allison.
If anything, they've gone in the other direction, making zoning more restrictive. It's been frustrating.
Our whole family assembles in Chicago at Christmas and usually in Aspen in the summer.
My primary and secondary education was provided by the Highland Park Public School System.
My real education began when I entered the University of Chicago in September 1951 as a graduate student.
My mother, Dorothy Watson, had met my father in a Greek class at Northwestern University.
I was much involved in the development of the spark chamber as a practical research tool.
While at Chicago my interest in the new field of particle physics was stimulated by a course given by Gell- Mann, who was developing his ideas about Strangeness at the time.
When the violation of parity was discovered I began a series of electronic experiments to investigate parity violation in hyperon decays.
Assuring there is adequate housing for the work force is an economic issue. You cannot have jobs and economic diversity unless you have housing.
Annette, with great patience and good spirit, tolerated my many long absences when experiments were carried out at distant laboratories.
During this period, with a series of excellent students, we further studied hyperon decays.
A blue ribbon commission, by its very nature, is temporary, intended to focus attention on an issue. This is a long-term problem, and I felt we needed a long-term response.
In 1971 I returned to the University of Chicago as Professor of Physics.
In addition to the research, I enjoyed learning French and assimilating the culture of another country.
The Director of the Laboratory, George Reynolds, was most supportive of my efforts to work independently. There followed for ten years a glorious time for research.
The long-lived K meson was discovered at Brookhaven.