NOVAC General Meeting, Dr. David DeVorkin presents: From the Laboratory ...

Dr. David DeVorkin follows Carruthers from his childhood in Ohio and then Chicago to his career at the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC. In the highly competitive world of space science in the 1960s and 1970s, Carruthers’s genius for experimentation and exploration transcended the racial stereotyping and discrimination of his day, and he achieved world-class recognition for his studies of the Earth and deep space. A leading expert in the history of astronomy and space science, DeVorkin gives a deft account of these achievements and of how Carruthers used the fame they brought him, along with his notoriety as a Black man in science, to become a tireless advocate for underserved young people in science and engineering. 

Dr. DeVorkin will be presenting in person from George Mason. Join your NOVAC colleagues at GMU, 4:00 pm, to socialize before the meeting or sign on virtually to socialize with remote attendees.

Meet at George Mason University, Exploratory Hall, Room 3301. Check the GMU web site for nearby parking options. Some lots or garages do charge for parking.

GMU Maps and Directions link:  https://info.gmu.edu/campus-maps-and-directions/

Join virtually using Google Meet:

Video call link: meet.google.com/cbf-jusw-dsm

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 252-344-1407 PIN: ‪ ‪937 923 741‬#

Sunday July 13, 2025

4:00 pm Join the online meeting for participant open discussion

4:00 pm Join colleagues at GMU for socializing

4:30 pm NOVAC news, announcements and events

5:00-6:00 pm Dr. DeVorkin’s presentation

Presentation Details

Talk Title:

From the Laboratory to the Moon: The Quiet Genius of George R. Carruthers

Biography:

Dr. David DeVorkin is Senior Curator Emeritus of the History of Astronomy at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum. He earned his Ph.D. in the history of astronomy from the University of Leicester in 1978, along with degrees in astronomy from Yale (M.Phil., 1970), San Diego State College (M.S., 1968), and UCLA (B.S., 1966). His research focuses on the development of modern astrophysics in the 20th century, the emergence of space sciences, and the role of government and military support in shaping scientific progress after World War II. He is widely recognized for his work on the history of space astronomy and its broader scientific and cultural impact.