Robert Jungk facts for kids
Robert Jungk (born Robert Baum; 11 May 1913 – 14 July 1994) was an Austrian writer, journalist, historian, and peace activist. He wrote many books and articles, especially about nuclear weapons and the future.
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Life Story
Robert Jungk was born in Berlin, Germany. His family was Jewish. When Adolf Hitler and the Nazis came to power, Jungk was arrested. After being released, he moved to Paris. He later went back to Nazi Germany to work secretly against the government.
Because of his dangerous work, he had to move often during World War II. He lived in cities like Prague, Paris, and Zurich. After the war, he continued to work as a journalist.
Writing About Nuclear History
One of Jungk's most famous books is Brighter than a Thousand Suns: A Personal History of the Atomic Scientists. This book was one of the first to tell the story of the Manhattan Project. This was the secret project where the United States developed the first atomic bombs. His book also talked about Germany's own atomic bomb project during the war.
The book included a part that suggested a German scientist named Werner Heisenberg might have tried to slow down Germany's bomb project. This idea caused a lot of discussion, especially about a meeting Heisenberg had with another famous scientist, Niels Bohr, in 1941. This meeting later inspired a famous play called Copenhagen.
Working for Peace and the Future
Robert Jungk was a strong supporter of peace and a better future. In 1986, he received the Right Livelihood Award. This award is sometimes called the "Alternative Nobel Prize." He earned it for working tirelessly for peace, for smart ideas about the future, and for caring about the environment.
In 1992, Jungk tried to become the president of Austria. He ran for the Austrian Green Party, which focuses on environmental protection and peace. He did not win the election.
Robert Jungk passed away in Salzburg, Austria, on 14 July 1994.
Awards and Honors
Robert Jungk received many awards and honors for his important work:
- 1970: Honorary Professor at the Technical University of Berlin
- 1986: Right Livelihood Award
- 1989: Honorary Citizen of the City of Salzburg
- 1992: Alternative Büchner Prize
- 1993: Honorary Doctor of the University of Osnabrück
- 1993: Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art
- 1993: Salzburg Award for Future Research
See also
- Alexander Sachs (Robert Jungk wrote about the 1939 Einstein–Szilárd letter to President Franklin Roosevelt)
Images for kids
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A robot, symbolizing future research.
