John Bockris

John Bockris

Bernhardt Patrick John O’Mara Bockris, (born 5 January 1923, in Johannesburg, South Africa), now retired, has had a successful and much decorated career as a Professor and Distinguished Professor in the physical sciences, chiefly Electrochemistry. Among wide ranging contributions to physical chemistry Bockris is best known for his creation of Physical Electrochemistry, taking an old and decayed subject into modern times (1950 to 1970); for the introduction of a Hydrogen Economy (1971 to Present); and for the first known nuclear reactions to be carried out in aqueous solutions (1989 to 1997).

Two of the areas (out of 23) which he chose to study have provoked controversy, namely, that of Cold Fusion and Transmutation. His interests in these areas brought harsh criticism. Dr. Bockris was exonerated of fraud or scientific misconduct by his university after three investigations in 1995.

Bockris has authored and/or coauthored more than 712 papers and more than 24 books up to this time (June 2012). His areas of interest include Physical Electrochemistry, environmental chemistry, photo-Electrochemistry, bio-Electrochemistry, Quantum Electrochemistry, and founding contributions to condensed matter nuclear reactions. He has had undergraduate students come from 14 countries to do research with him. Between 1961 and 1969 he ranked between 8th and 11th of the frequency of quotations among U.S. physical chemists.