Eric M. Rogers

Eric M. Rogers (15 August 1902 – 1 July 1990) was a British physics educator and teacher. He is perhaps best known for his book "Physics for the Inquiring Mind Princeton" [cite book | author = Eric M. Rogers | title = Physics For The Inquiring Mind | publisher = Princeton University Press | year = 1960 | id = ISBN 0-691-08016-X. ] published by Princeton University Press in 1960. The book, subtitled "The Methods, Nature, and Philosophy of Physical Science", was based on course he gave at Princeton [cite book
author = (Eds.) Brenda Jennison, Jon Ogborn | title = Wonder and Delight Essays in Science Education| publisher = Institute of Physics, Bristol and Philadelphia| year = 1994 | id = ISBN 0-7503-0315-8 .] Rogers also was the driving force behind the Nuffield program in physics education in the 1960s.

Life and work

Eric Rogers was born on 15^th August 1902 at Bickley, Kent. His father, Charles Knight Rogers was a publisher for the International News Co Ltd. Eric Rogers went to Bedales School from 1916 to 1921. Bedales school and its founder John Haden Badley had a strong influence on Rogers . At Bedales school Eric Rogers wss involved in various ventures, and during his last year at the school was elected as the Head Boy, and Editor of the school magazine.

Rogers went to Trinity College, Cambridge gaining first class honours both in Mathematics Tripos Part 1 in 1922 and Natural Science Tripos Part 2 in 1924. He was elected a senior scholar in 1923. He did a short term of research and teaching in the Cavendish Laboratory from 1924-1925, which ended in his posting as physics master and assistant house master at Clifton College, Bristol. He remained there from 1925 to 1928.

In 1928 Rogers joined Bedales school a physics teacher and boys' house-master. Here Eric Rogers met Janet Drummond a history teacher. They became engaged in April 1930, and eloped before the term ended to get married on 14th June 1930.

After this Eric Rogers became an instructor in physics at Harvard University for two years. Eric Rogers returned to England in 1932 and joined Charterhouse as physics master, till 1937.

In 1937 he went back to USA to join Putney School for three years. He was then appointed at Mount Holyoke College (1940-41) and St. Paul's, Concorde (1941-42). In 1942 he joined Princeton University as associate professor. Rogers retired as professor from Princeton University in 1971.

Eric Rogers was also a member of Physical Science Study Committee (PSSC). In 1962 he became a consultant on the Nuffield O-Level physics project and became the organizer of the project in 1963. He had a considerable impact on the project.

Eric Rogers' wife died and sister died in 1971 and 1972 respectively, which disrupted his retirement plans. Eric Rogers died on 1st July, 1990 in Cambridge.

"Wonder and Delight", published in 1994 (Institute of Physics), is a book dedicated to the works and philosophy of Eric Rogers. The book's subtitle is "Essays in Science Education in honour of the life and work of Eric Rogers (1902-1990)." A biography of Eric Rogers was included.

Awards

In 1969 Eric Rogers received the Oersted Medal, which is given by the American Association of Physics Teachers. [cite journal
author =
year = 1969
title = Eric M. Rogers: Oersted Medalist for 1969
journal = Am. J. Phys.
volume = 37
pages = 953–954
doi = 10.1119/1.1975216 ] In 1980 he became the inaugural recipient of the Physics Education Medal, awarded by the International Commission on Physics Education, and in 1985 he was given the Bragg Medal of the Institute of Physics. [cite journal
author =
year = 1981
title = Eric M. Rogers Physics Education Medalist 1980
journal = Proceedings of the International Conference on Education for Physics Teaching 1980
volume =
pages = 80–81 ] [cite journal
author =
year = 1985
title = Eric M. Rogers: Bragg Medalist 1985
journal = Phys. Bull.
volume = 36
pages = 153 ] Eric Rogers was a fellow of the Institute of Physics, the American Physical Society, and a member of the European Physical Society.

Selected writings

*cite journal | author=Eric M. Rogers | title=Examinations: Powerful Agents for Good or Ill in Teaching | journal=Am. J. Phys. | year=1969 | volume=37 | issue= 10| pages=954–962 | url= | doi=10.1119/1.1975217
*cite journal | author=Eric M. Rogers; Reviewer: Philip Youngner | title=Book Review: Physics for the Inquiring Mind | journal=Phys. Teach. | year=1963 | volume=1 | issue= 1| pages=39–40 | url= | doi=10.1119/1.2350566
*cite journal | author=Eric M. Rogers; Reviewer: Francis L. Friedman | title=Book Review: Physics for the Inquiring Mind | journal=Am. J. Phys. | year=1962 | volume=30 | issue= 9| pages=660–661 | url= | doi=10.1119/1.1942162
*cite journal | author=Eric M. Rogers | title=Physics Summer Institute in Pakistan | journal=Am. J. Phys. | year=1961 | volume=29 | issue=10 | pages=661–665 | url= | doi=10.1119/1.1937547
*cite journal | author=Eric M. Rogers | title=The “Block-and-Gap” Scheme for Physics Courses | journal=Am. J. Phys. | year=1949 | volume=17 | issue=1 | pages=532–541 | url= | doi=10.1119/1.1989689
*cite journal | author=Eric M. Rogers | title=Aim of Laboratory Experiments for Liberal Arts Students | journal=Am. J. Phys. | year=1947 | volume=15 | issue=1 | pages=80–81 | url= | doi=10.1119/1.1990900
*cite journal | author=Eric M. Rogers | title=Samples Versus Survey in Physics Courses for Liberal Arts Students | journal=Am. J. Phys. | year=1946 | volume=14 | issue=6 | pages=384–386 | url= | doi=10.1119/1.1990873
*cite journal | author=Eric M. Rogers | title=Demonstration Experiment: Mechanical Analogs of Electric Circuits | journal=Am. J. Phys. | year=1946 | volume=14 | issue=5 | pages=318–319 | url= | doi=10.1119/1.1990850
*cite journal | author=Eric M. Rogers | title=Demonstration Experiment: Magnetized Ring | journal=Am. J. Phys. | year=1946 | volume=14 | issue=4 | pages=273 | url= | doi=10.1119/1.1990833

References