John R. Winckler

John Randolph Winckler (October 27, 1916 – February 6, 2001) was an American experimental physicist notable for his discovery of sprites in 1989^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]} and other discoveries in the fields of solar, magnetospheric, auroral, and atmospheric physics.

First color image of a sprite, taken from an aircraft.

^{[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17][excessive citations]} He was also notable for designing new methods and apparatus to collect scientific data from high altitude flying objects such as balloons, rockets, and spacecraft.^[6] This data collection led Winckler and his staff to major discoveries, such as: discovering that high-energy electrons accompany auroras.^[6] Winckler was an advisor to NASA,^[14] and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.^[6]

Notable awards and distinctions

• 1953 Fellow of the American Physical Society^[18]
• 1962 American Institute for Aviation and Astronautics, Space Science Award^[6]
• 1965-66 Guggenheim fellow, France^[6]
• 1972 Doctor honoris causa, Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France^[6]
• 1978 Arctowski Medal, National Academy of Sciences^[6]
• 1985 Soviet Geophysical Committee International Geophysical Year Commemorative Medal^[6]
• 1991 NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement^[6]
• 1996 Member, the National Academy of Sciences^[6][7]

Chronology

• October 27, 1916, born, North Plainfield, New Jersey
• 1942: B.S., Rutgers University
• 1946: Ph.D., Princeton University^[6][8]
• 1946: joins faculty of Princeton University^[6]
• 1949–1986: University of Minnesota, assistant professor to professor of physics^[7]
• 1986–2001: University of Minnesota, emeritus professor of physics^[7]