Ralph Siu facts for kids

Ralph Gun Hoy Siu (1917 – December 29, 1998) was an American expert in many fields. He was a scholar, worked for the military and government, and wrote books. Siu was the very first Director of the National Institute of Justice from 1968 to 1969.

Ralph Siu's Early Life and Education

Ralph Siu was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1917. He loved learning and studied a lot.

His College Years

Siu first went to the University of Hawaiʻi. There, he earned two degrees: one in chemistry and another in plant physiology. After that, he continued his studies at the California Institute of Technology. He earned a Ph.D. there, specializing in bio-organic chemistry. This field combines biology and chemistry.

Ralph Siu's Amazing Career

After finishing his studies, Ralph Siu started a long and important career. He worked on many projects that helped people and the country.

Helping the Army with Science

Siu joined the Quartermaster Corps of the U.S. Army. He led a team of scientists. They created new fabrics, clothes, and equipment. These items were specially designed for soldiers working in jungles.

From 1948 to 1962, Siu was the top scientist for the Quartermaster Corps. He led many important projects. One big project was about food irradiation. This is a way to preserve food using radiation. It was a key part of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s "Atoms for Peace" program. This program used atomic energy for good things, not just weapons. In 1961, Siu received a special award for his great work in government service.

Later, from 1962 to 1966, Siu became the Scientific Director for the United States Army Materiel Command. This group makes sure the Army has all the equipment it needs. He then moved to Washington, D.C. and became a Deputy Director until 1968.

Working for Justice

In 1968, Siu started working for the Department of Justice. He became part of the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration. President Lyndon B. Johnson then chose him to lead a new group. This group was called the National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. It was created to study crime and justice. However, the government changed after the 1968 election, and Siu retired in March 1969.

Writing Books and Fighting Suffering

Ralph Siu also wrote several books about management. Some of his famous books include The Tao of Science (1957) and The Craft of Power (1979).

In 1988, he wrote an article called "Panetics—The Study of the Infliction of Suffering." This article was about understanding how people cause suffering.

In 1991, Ralph Siu helped start a group called the International Society for Panetics. Many other scientists and leaders joined him. This group was dedicated to studying ways to reduce human suffering. They wanted to find out how individuals, companies, and governments could cause less pain. The society published a journal and held special lectures in Siu's honor. In 2009, all of Siu's writings were given to the University of Toledo library.

Ralph Siu's Personal Life

In 1949, Ralph Siu met Irene I-lien Hsu. They got married on February 12, 1950, in Yonkers, New York.

Ralph Siu passed away on December 29, 1998. He was 80 years old. He died from congestive heart failure at George Washington University Hospital.