This autobiography is written to follow the initially turbulent and seemingly random path of education and life experiences of the author in the 1930s and 40s during the oppressive 3rd German Reich. These early childhood insights made the author an undesirable student in the 1950s in the totalitarian German Democratic Republic, and ultimately brought him to the USA. Ideally prepared, he completed a first-rate education in record time, leading in 1965 to a tenured professorship in chemistry at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, specializing in research of the solid state of linear macromolecules (polymers, plastics). Early retirement in 1988 led to a new 20-year career as Professor and Distinguished Scientist at the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The unforeseeable results of writing this book were the many links between Bernhard Wunderlich's love of teaching and research to the earliest experiences in his life. He would not want to miss or change anything. The complete list of publications and lectures is available online as electronic supplementary material on extras.springer.com
This autobiography is written to follow the initially turbulent and seemingly random path of education and life experiences of the author in the 1930s and 40s during the oppressive 3rd German Reich. These early childhood insights made the author an undesirable student in the 1950s in the totalitarian German Democratic Republic, and ultimately brought him to the USA. Ideally prepared, he completed a first-rate education in record time, leading in 1965 to a tenured professorship in chemistry at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, specializing in research of the solid state of linear macromolecules (polymers, plastics). Early retirement in 1988 led to a new 20-year career as Professor and Distinguished Scientist at the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. A surprising requirement of this career was an extensive amount of travel within the US and worldwide. It rekindled an interest based on his father's love of the literature on explorations, led to a visit of many anthropological sites, and peaked with a trip around the world with Northwestern University Alumni. The unforeseeable results of writing this book were the many links between Bernhard Wunderlich's love of teaching and research to the earliest experiences in his life. He would not want to miss or change anything.
The complete list of publications and lectures is available online as electronic supplementary material on extra.springer.com
Early Childhood, 1931–1939.- Years of War, 1939–45.- Final Years in Brandenburg, 1945–49.- Humboldt University in Berlin, 1949–53.- Goethe University in Frankfurt, Federal Republic of Germany, 1953–54.- Study in the US, 1954–58.- Cornell University, 1958–63.- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1963–88.- University of Tennessee & Oak Ridge National Lab, 1988–2001.- Retirement, 2001.
"I found reading this autobiography of the polymer chemist Bernhard Wunderlich an extremely humbling experience. As a UK babyboomer who was a child in the 1950s and a teenager in the 1960s, I found myself counting my blessings, as I read about someone born in Brandenburg, Germany, in 1931. (...) Wunderlich's long and distinguished career in research and teaching involved him in extensive travel in the US and around the world, including periodic return visits to Germany. This book reflects his great love of travel, including a deep interes in European and Mediterranean antiquities. (...) I found the book enthralling and would recommend it to young chemists of today. When we are tempted to complain, it is salutary to read about someone, who despite early hurdles and difficulties, had the determination to succeed and ended up living a very full life, supported by a wide network of friends and family. (Lucy Mitton, Chemistry World, Royal Society of Chemistry 2010)
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Binding: Mixed media product, 519 pages ISBN: 9783642111952 Format: 235mm x 155mm
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