George Russell Harrison (July 14, 1898 – July 27, 1979) was an American physicist.
Harrison became Professor of Experimental Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1930, and was appointed the school's Dean of Science in 1942; he also headed MIT's Spectroscopy Laboratory. During World War II, he was chief of the Optics Division of the National Defense Research Committee, and later head of the Office of Field Service of the Office of Scientific Research and Development. He served as president of the Optical Society of America from 1945-46 and was awarded the Frederic Ives Medal in 1949. He was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1946 by President Harry Truman. He remained Dean of Science at MIT until his retirement in 1964.
Famous quotes containing the word harrison:
“Columbus stood in his age as the pioneer of progress and enlightenment. The system of universal education is in our age the most prominent and salutary feature of the spirit of enlightenment, and it is peculiarly appropriate that the schools be made by the people the center of the day’s demonstration. Let the national flag float over every schoolhouse in the country and the exercises be such as shall impress upon our youth the patriotic duties of American citizenship.”
—Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901)