University of Saskatchewan - Management Area in Saskatoon in Corman Park No. 344, Saskatchewan — The Prairie Region (North America)
Gerhard Herzberg
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 18, 2022
1. Gerhard Herzberg Marker
Dr. Gerhard Herzberg received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1971 for “his contributions to the knowledge of electronic structure and geometry of molecules, particularly free radicals.” In the presentation speech it was stated that “Dr. Gerhard Herzberg, is generally considered to be the world's foremost molecular spectroscopist and his large institute in Ottawa is the undisputed center for such research. Herzberg's elegant experimental investigations combined with his theoretical insight into their interpretation contributed to the progress of quantum mechanics while being decisive for the rapid development of molecular spectroscopy.”
Dr. Herzberg was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1904 and received his Bachelor's degree in 1927 and his Ph.D. degree in 1928, both in engineering, from the Darmstadt Institute of Technology. The Nazi persecution of Jews forced Dr. Herzberg to emigrate to Canada in 1935 and for a decade he was research professor and teacher at the University of Saskatchewan where he established a spectroscopy laboratory. In his acceptance speech he said “It is obvious that the work that has earned me the Nobel Prize was not done without a great deal of help. First of all, while at the University of Saskatchewan I had the full and understanding support of successive Presidents and of the Faculty of the University who, under very stringent conditions, did their utmost to make it possible for me to proceed with my scientific work.”
Erected 1997 by Meewasin Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Immigration • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1971.
Location. 52° 7.846′ N, 106° 37.976′ W. Marker is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in Corman Park No. 344. It is in the University of Saskatchewan - Management Area.
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Regionally, this marker is in Heartland Saskatchewan. It is also in the Prairies. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony and also Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Dr. Henry Taube (here, next to this marker); College Building (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named College Building (a few steps from this marker); Saskatoon Land Titles Building (approx. 2 kilometers away); Firehall No. 3 (approx. 2.1 kilometers away); C.P.R. Station, Saskatoon/Gare du C.P. (Saskatoon) (approx. 2.6 kilometers away); Little Chief Service Station (approx. 2.9 kilometers away); Wanuskewin (approx. 10.7 kilometers
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 18, 2022
2. Gerhard Herzberg Marker
The marker is in the University of Saskatchewan Nobel Plaza, on the front wall of the Peter MacKinnon Building entrance staircase. It is mounted on the left side of the staircase front wall.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. University of Saskatchewan Nobel Plaza
Also see . . . Gerhard Heinrich Friedrich Otto Julius Herzberg (1904–1999) (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: German-Canadian pioneering physicist and physical chemist, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1971, “for his contributions to the knowledge of electronic structure and geometry of molecules, particularly free radicals.” Herzberg's main work concerned atomic and molecular spectroscopy. He is well known for using these techniques that determine the structures of diatomic and polyatomic molecules, including free radicals which are difficult to investigate in any other way, and for the chemical analysis of astronomical objects. Herzberg served as Chancellor of Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada from 1973 to 1980.(Submitted on October 14, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Herzberg was honoured with memberships or fellowships by a very large number of scientific societies, received many awards and honorary degrees in different countries. The NSERC Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Scienceand Engineering, Canada's highest research award, was named in his honour in 2000. The Canadian Association of Physicists also has an annual award named in his honour. The Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics is named for him. He was made a member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science. Asteroid 3316 Herzberg is named after him. In 1964 he was awarded the Frederic Ives Medal by the OSA. He was later named an Honorary Member of the Society. At Carleton University, there is a building named after him that belongs to the Physics and Mathematics/Statistics Departments, Herzberg Laboratories. Herzberg was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1951. The main building of John Abbott College in Montreal is named after him. Carleton University named the Herzberg Laboratories building after him. A public park in the College Park neighbourhood of Saskatoon also bears his name.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 18, 20223. University of Saskatchewan Nobel Plaza
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 18, 2022
4. Nobel Plaza Dedication
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 18, 2022
5. University of Saskatchewan Peter MacKinnon Building Entrance
Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 14, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
