JAMES F. BAUR, PHD
Science Solutions, Inc.
President & Owner
For outstanding service to Sigma Xi and its mission
Biography
Upon a foundation of BS, MS, PhD degrees, all in physics, and intense experiences, Dr. Jim Baur enjoyed a professional career in four phases.
US Army: Airborne, Ranger, commanding officer and staff officer in combat engineer units; chief of the advanced physics course for academically proficient cadets as faculty at the US Military Academy, West Point. Lesson: leadership and management skills dramatically affect organizational success.
Fusion Energy: Dr. Baur conducted fusion energy research on three tokamaks at General Atomics for 15 years; collaborative research at US and international laboratories; national design team for two future US tokamaks. Lesson: physics is fun and international collaborations are synergistic and enjoyable.
Science International Entrepreneurship: Dr. Baur created and managed Science Solutions Inc. for 30 years; femtosecond lasers, laser wavelength meters and oceanographic research management were features; he owned and operated the Khovd Gol tungsten mine in the Altai mountains of western Mongolia for 12 years. Lesson: intersecting with diverse cultures expands personal awareness and human appreciations.
Science Organizational Activism: Dr. Baur was an officer and active in several organizations, most of them physics oriented; Sigma Xi was his emphasis; he has attended 33 Sigma Xi Annual Meetings, served on numerous Society committees, including Chair of the International Committee for seven years, and was elected and served as a Director and as President of the Society. Lesson: the members, officers and staff of Sigma Xi are resourceful and serve the global science and engineering community well.
Conclusion: collaborative research embracing diverse cultures and disciplines, over a succession of life phases, produces excellent research results and personal growth and fulfillment.