Frank Press

Frank Press – Life, Science, and Lasting Influence

Frank Press (1924–2020) was a distinguished American geophysicist, presidential science advisor, and leader in U.S. science policy. This article traces his career, contributions to Earth science, public service, and lessons from his life.

Introduction

Frank Press was one of the key figures bridging rigorous geophysical research and science policy in the United States during the second half of the 20th century. As a pioneering seismologist, advisor to multiple presidents, and president of the National Academy of Sciences, Press shaped both our understanding of Earth’s interior and how science is mobilized in government. His life offers a model of how a scientist can work at the highest levels of research and public influence.

Early Life and Education

Frank Press was born on December 4, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants.

In his early schooling he struggled to see the blackboard; when he was about 11 years old, he was fitted with glasses, which changed his academic trajectory. He said that in high school, a geology teacher assigned him a magnetic survey of Van Cortland Park in the Bronx—an experience that turned his interest toward geophysics.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Physics from City College of New York in 1944. He then completed his M.A. (1946) and Ph.D. (1949) in geophysics at Columbia University, under the supervision of Maurice “Doc” Ewing.

His doctoral dissertation was titled Two applications of normal mode sound propagation in the ocean.

Scientific Career & Contributions

Early Work & Lamont Observatory

After finishing his Ph.D., Press joined the faculty at Columbia, where he helped cofound the Lamont Geological Observatory (now Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory). At Columbia, collaborating with Ewing, he developed the Press–Ewing seismograph, a design that later would be refined and used to record long-period seismic waves.

Caltech & Seismological Laboratory

In 1955, he moved to Caltech, becoming professor of geophysics. In 1957, Press was appointed Director of the Seismological Laboratory, succeeding Beno Gutenberg.

One of his notable achievements was in the study of Earth’s free oscillations (“bell ringing” of the planet), observed especially after large earthquakes (such as the 1960 Chile quake). These oscillations provided constraints on the Earth’s internal structure (mantle, core) and how seismic waves propagate long distances.

Press also introduced advances in digital seismic recording and long-period seismology at Caltech, pushing the field toward computational methods.

MIT and Department Building

In 1965, Press left Caltech to become head of the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At MIT, he transformed a traditional geology department into a modern geophysics powerhouse, bringing in new faculty and interdisciplinary work with oceanography and planetary sciences.

Science Policy & Public Service

Press’s scientific reputation led him to roles in government advising:

• He served on the President’s Science Advisory Committee under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.

• Under the Nixon era, he was appointed to the National Science Board.

• In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Press as Science Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). He served until 1981.

During that tenure, he advocated for the use of scientific evidence in policymaking, fostered international scientific cooperation, and addressed rising concerns about energy, environment, and technology.

One notable episode: Press worked on proposals for a global seismic detection network to verify compliance with nuclear test-ban treaties, leveraging his expertise in seismology for arms control.

National Academy of Sciences & Leadership

In 1981, Press became the 19th President of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS), a position he held through 1993 (re-elected for a second term).

Under his leadership, the NAS played critical roles in national scientific advice, policy reports, international scientific exchanges, and bridging science and government.

After retiring from active leadership, Press co-founded the Washington Advisory Group (later known as the Advisory Group at Huron), serving as a science policy consultant.

Recognition & Honors

Frank Press’s contributions won him widespread honors:

• William Bowie Medal (AGU, 1979)

• Japan Prize (1993)

• National Medal of Science

• Vannevar Bush Award (1994)

• Lomonosov Gold Medal (Russian Academy, 1997)

• Over 30 honorary degrees

Other honors include having Mount Press (in Antarctica) named after him, and a marine worm species Osedax frankpressi (a whalebone-eating worm) bearing his name.

Personality & Approach

Though a towering figure in science and policy, Press was known by colleagues as modest, thoughtful, and deeply engaged with students and younger researchers. He often treated graduate students as colleagues and gave them challenging problems.

His career demonstrates a consistent belief: that empirical science and public policy should inform each other, and that scientists have a duty to engage in governance and diplomacy.

Famous Quotes & Ideas

Frank Press was more of a thinker and policy maker than an aphoristic quote-maker. Nevertheless, some of his notable reflections include:

• On science in policy: “Cooperation among scientific communities in all countries will become even more important … as the problems we face increasingly will transcend national boundaries.”

• In a 1977 climate memo, he cautioned that CO₂ emissions posed potentially catastrophic consequences—an unusually prescient warning for that era.

Lessons from Frank Press

1. Integration of science and policy
   Press’s career shows that scientists can move beyond pure research to influence national decisions—if they combine deep expertise with institutional acumen.

2. Long view & responsibility
   His warning about CO₂ emissions decades before climate change became mainstream underscores the value of a long horizon in scientific advice.

3. Mentorship and generational legacy
   By treating students as collaborators, he helped shape many researchers who carried forward new directions in Earth science.

4. Institution building
   He didn’t just join institutions; he transformed them (e.g. MIT geophysics department, leadership at NAS). Lasting impact often comes via strengthening structures, not just personal work.

5. Bridging national and global science
   From advising nuclear test bans to promoting international cooperation, Press showed that scientific problems seldom stay within borders.

Conclusion

Frank Press lived a life of profound influence: in mapping Earth’s interior, advancing seismology, shaping science policy, and mentoring generations. His career cut across academia, government, and international forums. Today, as we confront challenges from climate change to pandemics, his model—scientist as both investigator and diplomat—remains instructive.