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Takesi Nagata 1914–1991
IN MEMORIAM TAKES1 NAGATA 1914-1991
Professor Takesi IVagata passed away on 3 June 199 1, at the age of 77, in Tokyo, after spending several months in hospital. He was a great scientist whose research contributions covered various fields of geophysics, in particular rock magnetism, palaeo- and archaeo-magnetism, aeronomy, space physics as well as Antarctic research. He was Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo and of the National Institute of Polar Research, and a member of the Japan Academy. For his great scientific achievements, Professor Nagata received various prizes and honours in Japan. In 1951, he was awarded the Japan Academy prize for his geophysical study of the magnetic properties of rocks, and in 1968 the science and technology prize from the Toray Company for his study of rock magnetism. In 1961, the government of Japan awarded him a silver cup for his contribution to the scientific expedition to Antarctica, and in 1974 the Order of Culture, that is the top honour for outstanding cultural or scientific achievements in Japan. He was selected as a member of the Japan Academy in 1986. Takesi Nagata was also given various awards from abroad. For example, he became a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 1962, an Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society of London in 1965, a Mitglied der Deutschen Akademie der Naturforschen 5
Leopoldina, Halle (in Germany) in 1966, and a Foreign Associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 1969. He received D.Sc. Honoris Causa from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1968, and a Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1987. It is also worth mentioning that a mountain in the eastern Antarctica has been named officially as ‘Nagata Mountain’. He was a member of SCAR between 1957 and 1986, and served as chairman of its Working Group on Upper Atmospheric Physics during that period. He was elected Vice-President of SCAR for 1972-76, and thereafter an Honorary Member. He served also as the IUGG representative to SCAR until 1987 and as the SCAR representative to SCOSTEP. Professor Nagata played a role in COSPAR from its earliest years, and was already in contact with COSPAR in the early 1960s when he was part of the Comite International de Geophysique that was responsible for organizing the International Years of the Quiet Sun (IQSY). He became an active member of COSPAR’s Working Group 4 on Experiments in the Upper Atmosphere, later becoming and remaining for many years the SCAR representative to COSPAR. For some time, he was also the IUGG representative to COSPAR Working Group 7 on Space Related Studies of the Moon and Planets. For many years, he was a member of the National Committee on Space Research of Japan. Finally, he participated in the majority of COSPAR’s meetings, bringing new research and insights to the whole community. Compiled from contributions from Professor T. Hirasawa (National Delegate to SCAR) and Z. Niemirowicz (COSPAR Executive Secretary)
Professor Takesi IVagata passed away on 3 June 199 1, at the age of 77, in Tokyo, after spending several months in hospital. He was a great scientist whose research contributions covered various fields of geophysics, in particular rock magnetism, palaeo- and archaeo-magnetism, aeronomy, space physics as well as Antarctic research. He was Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo and of the National Institute of Polar Research, and a member of the Japan Academy. For his great scientific achievements, Professor Nagata received various prizes and honours in Japan. In 1951, he was awarded the Japan Academy prize for his geophysical study of the magnetic properties of rocks, and in 1968 the science and technology prize from the Toray Company for his study of rock magnetism. In 1961, the government of Japan awarded him a silver cup for his contribution to the scientific expedition to Antarctica, and in 1974 the Order of Culture, that is the top honour for outstanding cultural or scientific achievements in Japan. He was selected as a member of the Japan Academy in 1986. Takesi Nagata was also given various awards from abroad. For example, he became a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 1962, an Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society of London in 1965, a Mitglied der Deutschen Akademie der Naturforschen 5
Leopoldina, Halle (in Germany) in 1966, and a Foreign Associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 1969. He received D.Sc. Honoris Causa from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1968, and a Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1987. It is also worth mentioning that a mountain in the eastern Antarctica has been named officially as ‘Nagata Mountain’. He was a member of SCAR between 1957 and 1986, and served as chairman of its Working Group on Upper Atmospheric Physics during that period. He was elected Vice-President of SCAR for 1972-76, and thereafter an Honorary Member. He served also as the IUGG representative to SCAR until 1987 and as the SCAR representative to SCOSTEP. Professor Nagata played a role in COSPAR from its earliest years, and was already in contact with COSPAR in the early 1960s when he was part of the Comite International de Geophysique that was responsible for organizing the International Years of the Quiet Sun (IQSY). He became an active member of COSPAR’s Working Group 4 on Experiments in the Upper Atmosphere, later becoming and remaining for many years the SCAR representative to COSPAR. For some time, he was also the IUGG representative to COSPAR Working Group 7 on Space Related Studies of the Moon and Planets. For many years, he was a member of the National Committee on Space Research of Japan. Finally, he participated in the majority of COSPAR’s meetings, bringing new research and insights to the whole community. Compiled from contributions from Professor T. Hirasawa (National Delegate to SCAR) and Z. Niemirowicz (COSPAR Executive Secretary)