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James Trefil
Clarence J. Robinson Professor of Physics
Physicist and author James Trefil is
known for his writing and his interest in teaching science to nonscientists. He accepted
an offer of a Robinson Professorship in order to develop a new kind of science curriculum
for general education, one based on developing scientific literacy among college
graduates. Joined later by Robinson Professor Robert Hazen, he developed a course and
textbook series that is now being used in approximately 200 colleges and universities
around the country. Science Matters:
Achieving Scientific Literacy, was co-authored with Robert Hazen in 1991, and in 1995
they published the textbook The Sciences: An Integrated Approach (now in the 4th
edition). Dr. Trefil's A Scientist in the
City appeared in 1994. Are We
Unique?: A Scientist Explores the Complexity of the Human Brain appeared in 1997. He is a Fellow of the APS and a former Guggenheim
Fellow. His numerous books and articles include works written for general audiences. He
co-authored The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy (4th ed., 2003) and in 1992
published The Facts of Life (Harold Morowitz, co-author). The National Geographic
Society published his book Other Worlds: The Solar System and Beyond in 1999. In 2002 he was the general editor of The
Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, co-author of Good Seeing, a scientific
history of the Carnegie Institution, and author of The Laws of Nature. His new book, Human Nature: Managing the
Planet by and for Humans, was published by Holt in May 2004. He is a regular contributor to Smithsonian
Magazine and was previously University Professor and Professor of Physics at the
University of Virginia. He is Chief Science Consultant to a new middle school science
curriculum being developed by McDougal-Littel and Houghton-Mifflin Publishing. He is a frequent keynote speaker at
educational conferences and lectures to members of the federal and state judiciaries on
the connection between science and the law. In
2000 American Institute of Physics chose him to receive the Andrew W. Gemant Award,
presented for outstanding and sustained contributions in bridging the gap between science
and society. In 2003-2004, he
was a Phi Beta
Kappa Visiting Scholar.
Dr. Trefil was featured in an article in the Mason Gazette: http://gazette.gmu.edu/articles/8839 .
What I teach in the Fall
What I teach in the Spring
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