John Randolph Winckler (October 27, 1916 – February 6, 2001) was an American experimental

physicist A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe. Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate cau ...

notable for his discovery of sprites in 1989Star Tribune:Obituary: John Winckler, 84, physicist;by: Kavita Kumar; February 8
/ref> and other discoveries in the fields of

solar Solar may refer to: Astronomy * Of or relating to the Sun ** Solar telescope, a special purpose telescope used to observe the Sun ** A device that utilizes solar energy (e.g. "solar panels") ** Solar calendar, a calendar whose dates indicate t ...

magnetospheric In astronomy and planetary science, a magnetosphere is a region of space surrounding an astronomical object in which charged particles are affected by that object's magnetic field. It is created by a celestial body with an active interior Dynamo ...

, auroral, and

atmospheric physics Within the atmospheric sciences, atmospheric physics is the application of physics to the study of the atmosphere. Atmospheric physicists attempt to model Earth's atmosphere and the atmospheres of the other planets using fluid flow equations, rad ...

. National Academy of Sciences:Biographical Memoirs;V.81;JOHN RANDOLPH WINCKLER;BY KINSEY A. ANDERSON
/ref>
/ref> [https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0D1EF93D541B728DDDA80A94DC405B818AF1D3&scp=3&sq=%22John%20R.%20Winckler%22&st=cse New York Times:HEAVY PARTICLES FROM SUN CAUGHT; Balloons and Rockets Trap Elements Close to Earth;These developments were described today to a news conference at the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. John R. Winckler of the University of Minnesota.April 21, 1961] New York Times:SCIENCE WATCH; Rare Lightning;July 17, 1990;Scientists from the University of Minnesota say they have made the first image of an uncommon form of lightning flashing between cloud tops and the clear air above
/ref>
/ref> 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 A spacecraft is a vehicle that is designed spaceflight, to fly and operate in outer space. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including Telecommunications, communications, Earth observation satellite, Earth observation, Weather s ...

. This data collection led Winckler and his staff to major discoveries, such as: discovering that high-energy electrons accompany

auroras An aurora ( aurorae or auroras), also commonly known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights (aurora australis), is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly observed in high-latitude regions (around the Arc ...

. Winckler was an advisor to

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...

, and a member of the

National Academy of Sciences The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, NGO, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the ...

Notable awards and distinctions

* 1953 Fellow of the

American Physical Society The American Physical Society (APS) is a not-for-profit membership organization of professionals in physics and related disciplines, comprising nearly fifty divisions, sections, and other units. Its mission is the advancement and diffusion of ...

(search on year=1953 and institution=University of Minnesota) * 1962 American Institute for Aviation and Astronautics, Space Science Award * 1965-66

Guggenheim fellow Guggenheim Fellowships are grants that have been awarded annually since by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, endowed by the late Simon and Olga Hirsh Guggenheim. These awards are bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated d ...

, France * 1972 Doctor honoris causa, Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France * 1978 Arctowski Medal,

* 1985 Soviet Geophysical Committee International Geophysical Year Commemorative Medal * 1991

Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement * 1996 Member, the

Chronology

* October 27, 1916, born,

North Plainfield, New Jersey North Plainfield is a Borough (New Jersey), borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located within the Raritan River, Raritan Valley region. As of the 2020 United States census, the boroug ...

* 1942: B.S.,

Rutgers University Rutgers University ( ), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of three campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's C ...

* 1946: Ph.D.,

Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial ...

* 1946: joins faculty of

* 1949–1986:

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...

, assistant professor to professor of physics * 1986–2001:

, emeritus professor of physics

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Winckler, John R. 1916 births 2001 deaths People from North Plainfield, New Jersey 20th-century American physicists Princeton University alumni Rutgers University alumni Princeton University faculty University of Minnesota faculty Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences Fellows of the American Physical Society