Lawrence Rocks (chemist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawrence Rocks
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| Born | August 27, 1933 New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Purdue University (M.S.) Technische Hochschule Vienna (D.Sc) |
| Occupation | Chemist / Prof. Emeritus, Long Island University |
| Known for | Chemistry, Analytical chemistry, Energy, Environmental science |
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Notable work
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The Energy Crisis (Crown Publishers, 1972), Fuels For Tomorrow (PennWell Publishers, 1980) |
| Spouse(s) | Marlene Rocks (married 1968) |
| Children | Burton Rocks |
Lawrence Rocks (born August 27, 1933) is an American chemist and author. He is known for writing books about energy problems and biofuel. He has also explored how chemistry connects with sports, especially baseball.
His 1973 book, The Energy Crisis, came out around the time of the 1973 oil crisis. This book helped people understand energy issues. It also played a part in the creation of the U.S. Department of Energy.
Rocks has also worked with professional baseball player Paul DeJong. They explored how chemistry can be important in baseball.
Contents
Lawrence Rocks's Career Journey
Lawrence Rocks earned his Masters of Science degree from Purdue University. He then received his Doctor of Science degree from Technische Hochschule Vienna. For his doctoral work, he studied analytical chemistry. This field focuses on figuring out what things are made of.
Rocks is now a Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Long Island University. This means he is a retired professor who still holds an honored title.
Understanding Energy Challenges
In 1972, Rocks wrote a book called The Energy Crisis. In this book, he suggested that the United States needed a special center for energy. This idea helped lead to the creation of the U.S. Department of Energy. This department manages energy policies for the country.
After his book came out, Rocks became well-known. He spoke at the United Nations. He also appeared on popular TV shows like The Today Show. He even wrote a regular column for newspapers.
In 1979, Rocks wrote a chemistry textbook called Developing Your Chemistry Fundamentals. A year later, in 1980, he wrote a follow-up book called Fuels For Tomorrow. In this book, he talked about how fermentation chemistry could be important for farming in the future. He believed this process was better for the environment.
Chemistry in Sports
In 2017, Rocks did an experiment with baseball player Paul DeJong. They studied how temperature affects a baseball. They found that a baseball bounces best between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because the materials in the ball get stiffer when it's colder. They get too soft when it's too hot.
Rocks explained "sports chemistry" as combining modern chemistry with sports data. He believes that science is for everyone. He told Chemical & Engineering News that "Everybody can do it."
Rocks also discussed how music might relate to science. He said there's a "molecular rhythm to life." This means there are natural rhythms in our bodies that science might understand one day.
In 2018, the company Topps mentioned Rocks on Paul DeJong's baseball card. DeJong said Rocks helped him think differently about his off-season training. Rocks and DeJong also gave talks about athletic development. They discussed how tendons and breathing are important for athletes. Rocks emphasized that flexibility is key, even more than just lifting weights.
Topps even made a collectible card for Lawrence Rocks in 2019.
Personal Life
Lawrence Rocks is married to Marlene Rocks. They have one son, Burton Rocks. Burton is a writer and works as a sports agent. Lawrence Rocks also supports the Palm Beach Symphony.
