Interview with Thomas A. Tombrello - Caltech Oral Histories
Interview with Thomas A. Tombrello - Caltech Oral Histories
Interview with Thomas A. Tombrello - Caltech Oral Histories
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<strong>Tombrello</strong>–x<br />
206-213<br />
Establishes (<strong>with</strong> D. Tirrell) interdisciplinary campus nanotechnology center <strong>with</strong> Moore and<br />
Kavli Foundation support: concept and strategy underlying fund-raising proposal; appointment<br />
of M. Roukes and A. Scherer as directors. Establishes (<strong>with</strong> C. Elachi) joint appointments<br />
program between PMA and JPL; comments on <strong>Caltech</strong>’s and PMA’s relationship <strong>with</strong> JPL and<br />
<strong>Caltech</strong>. Large-telescope competition <strong>with</strong> Carnegie Institution: process of site selection in<br />
Hawaii for TMT; dealing <strong>with</strong> state and local politics in Hawaii.<br />
213-220<br />
<strong>Caltech</strong>’s academic divisions compared to different nations; collegiality <strong>with</strong>in PMA. Meets<br />
<strong>with</strong> both success and setbacks in efforts to raise quality of mathematics department through<br />
high-powered recruitment. “Always go after the best people”: M. Mirzakhani, E. Lindenstrauss,<br />
D. Calegari, A. Borodin. Undergraduate physics Wunderkind C. Hirata returns to PMA as<br />
faculty member. Harvard physicist L. Randall’s experiences as visiting professor at <strong>Caltech</strong>.<br />
220-225<br />
Current participation in USC–National Cancer Institute research project; interest in application<br />
of Hubbert’s Peak to coal reserves. Recollections of A. Lange as “superb scientist;” fund-raising<br />
efforts on Lange’s behalf <strong>with</strong> trustees and <strong>with</strong> W. M. Keck Foundation. Elaborates on<br />
philosophy of dealing <strong>with</strong> donors. Recent NASA administrators and JPL; status of Mars<br />
Science Laboratory mission.<br />
225-231<br />
Voyager mission and mission’s presiding “genius” E. Stone. Stone as Voyager project scientist,<br />
PMA division chair, director of JPL, and head of CARA oversight board for Keck Observatory.<br />
Story behind selection of D. Goldin to head NASA. Stone’s advocacy of Total Quality<br />
Management at JPL. Loss of JPL Mars Polar Lander and Mars Climate Orbiter. C. Elachi as<br />
director of JPL. Decision to float <strong>Caltech</strong> municipal bond issue to underwrite cost of TMT<br />
design study. Recalls budgetary coup at Schlumberger.<br />
232-234<br />
Selection of Pritzker Prize winner T. Mayne as architect for Cahill Center for Astronomy and<br />
Astrophysics; Mayne’s approach to building’s design and his working relationship <strong>with</strong><br />
<strong>Tombrello</strong>; reaction of donor Cahill and others to Cahill building; thoughts on how buildings<br />
evolve.<br />
Session 9<br />
235-238<br />
Recalls friendship <strong>with</strong> 1960s Kellogg graduate students L. Senhouse and A. Bacher. Current<br />
friendship <strong>with</strong> <strong>Caltech</strong> trustee S. Malcolm. Nuclear spectroscopy work <strong>with</strong> graduate students<br />
in 1960s. Begins transition into other research areas in late sixties.<br />
238-241<br />
Collaborates on field experiments in earthquake prediction in 1970s. Project’s progress and<br />
setbacks and unfortunate loss of funding a year before 1987 Whittier Narrows quake.<br />
http://resolver.caltech.edu/<strong>Caltech</strong>OH:OH_<strong>Tombrello</strong>_T