Profiles
Professor Gerald Pollack
Professor of Bioengineering, University of Washington
Gerald Pollack received his PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. He then joined the University of Washington faculty and is now professor of Bioengineering.
His interests have ranged broadly, from biological motion and cell biology to the interaction of biological surfaces with aqueous solutions. His 1990 book, Muscles and Molecules: Uncovering the Principles of Biological Motion, won an “Excellence Award” from the Society for Technical Communication; his more recent book, Cells, Gels and the Engines of Life, won that Society’s “Distinguished Award.” His most recent book The Fourth Phase of Water: Beyond Solid, Liquid, and Vapor was published in early 2013.
Pollack received an honorary doctorate in 2002 from Ural State University in Ekaterinburg, Russia, and was more recently named an Honorary Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and foreign member and Academician of the Srpska Academy. He received the Biomedical Engineering Society’s Distinguished Lecturer Award in 2002. In 2008, he was the faculty member chosen by the University of Washington faculty to receive their highest annual distinction: the Faculty Lecturer Award. Pollack is a Founding Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering and a Fellow of both the American Heart Association and the Biomedical Engineering Society. He is also Founding Editor-in-Chief of the journal, WATER, and has recently received an NIH Director’s Transformative R01 Award. He was the 2012 recipient of the Prigogine Medal.
As for additional material, many people have enjoyed a TEDx talk he gave on the subject of the 4th phase of water Also, Amazon reviews of his recent book convey more about public receptivity of our work. And finally, a recent movie, “The Fourth Phase”, named after Gerald’s book, combines snowboarding with science. Produced by Red Bull — amazing athletic feats, with a cameo appearance at the end.