J. O'M Bockris

Who was J. O'M Bockris?

Bernhardt Patrick John O’Mara Bockris had a successful and much decorated career as a professor in the physical sciences, chiefly electrochemistry. Among wide ranging contributions to physical chemistry, Bockris is best known for his creation of physical electrochemistry, taking an old and decayed subject into modern times; for the introduction of a hydrogen economy; and for the first known nuclear reactions to be carried out in aqueous solutions.

Two of the areas which he chose to study have provoked controversy, namely cold fusion and transmutation. His interests in these areas brought harsh criticism. Dr. Bockris was exonerated of fraud or scientific misconduct by his university after three investigations in 1995.

Bockris authored and/or co-authored more than 712 papers and more than 24 books. His areas of interest included physical electrochemistry, environmental chemistry, photoelectrochemistry, bioelectrochemistry, quantum electrochemistry, and founding contributions to condensed matter nuclear reactions. He had undergraduate students come from 14 countries to do research with him. Between 1961 and 1969 he ranked between 8th and 11th of the frequency of quotations among U.S. physical chemists.