Gerard Piel | |
---|---|
Born | March 1, 1915 Woodmere, New York |
Died | September 5, 2004 New York City |
(aged 89)
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Harvard University (B.A., History, 1937) |
Occupation | publisher |
Known for | Scientific American magazine |
Awards |
Kalinga Prize (1962) In Praise of Reason (CSI- 1990) |
Gerard Piel (1 March 1915 in Woodmere, N.Y. – 5 September 2004) was the publisher of the new Scientific American magazine starting in 1948. He wrote for magazines, including The Nation, and published books on science for the general public. In 1990, Piel was presented with the In Praise of Reason award by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSICOP).
Piel graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor of arts degree in 1937. He was the science editor of Life Magazine from 1939 to 1945. In 1946 and 1947, he worked at the Henry Kaiser Company as assistant to the president. In 1948, in association with two colleagues, he launched a new version of Scientific American, to promote science literacy for the general public in the postwar era. He held a number of honorary degrees and awards, including the UNESCO Kalinga Prize in 1962.