Prof. Edward Lipson

Edward Lipson grew up in Winnipeg, Canada. He received his B.Sc. (Hons.) degree there in physics and mathematics from the University of Manitoba. He then went on to graduate school at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, where he specialized in experimental nuclear physics. After receiving his Ph.D. in 1971, he remained at Caltech for postdoctoral research in biophysics, working with Nobel Laureate Prof. Max Delbrück on light responses of a microorganism. In 1976 he joined the physics department at Syracuse University where he now holds the rank of Professor. From 1983 to 1989, he served as Director of the interdepartmental Graduate Biophysics Program, and from 1983 to 1989 held the post of Associate Chair of the Physics Department with primary responsibility for graduate affairs. During 1995-1997, he served as Acting and then Interim Chair, while Prof. Marvin Goldberg is on leave as a Program Director at the National Science Foundation. At SU, he has maintained the line of biophysics research that he began at Caltech. From 1979 to 1983, Dr. Lipson received a faculty fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Since 1994, Dr. Lipson has extended his research activity to include a collaborative project on medical imaging and telemedicine, and since 1996, he has been codirecting a project on developing Web-based human-computer interface technologies for people with severe disabilities (see Pulsar Project home page at http://www.pulsar.org).

Dr. Lipson has personal interests in classical and international (world-beat) music. He is a member of the board, and a past-president, of Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music, which brings in world-class ensembles to perform for six concerts annually in the Syracuse area. During his high school years, he had developed a strong interest in Latin percussion, specifically playing bongo and conga drums, and once represented his high school by performing on a television talent show. He resumed this interest a few years ago and, during 1994, he was a member of the local Latin jazz band, Areito la Banda, performing at clubs, regional festivals and on campus. Since 1996 he has performed at a number of public engagements with The Celebration Band. He has recently acquired two djembe (West African) drums and attends drum circles in the Syracuse area. For other recreation, Dr. Lipson enjoys cross-country and downhill skiing, ice skating, and bicycling.  

In 1992, Dr. Lipson joined Prof. Goldberg in developing and co-teaching the two-semester pilot offering of Science for the 21st Century, and has since remained committed to course which has grown considerably since then.