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Dudley Robert Herschbach (born June 18, 1932) isan American chemist at Harvard University. He won the1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly with Yuan T.Lee and John C. Polanyi "for their contributions concerningthe dynamics of chemical elementary processes."Herschbach and Leespecifically worked with molecular beams, performing so-called "crossedmolecular beam" experiments that enabled a detailed molecular-levelunderstanding of many elementary reaction processes.

Herschbachwas born in San Jose, California. After graduating from CampbellHigh School, Herschbach received a B.S. in mathematics in 1954 andan M.S. in chemistry in 1955 from Stanford University, andan A.M. in physics in 1956 and a Ph.D. in chemical physicsin 1958 from Harvard University under the direction ofEdgar BrightWilson. After graduation, Herschbach joined the University of Californiaat Berkeley, where he was appointed an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in 1959and became an Associate Professor in 1961.

In thecourse of his life's work in research, Herschbach has published over 400scientific papers.Herschbach's research has ranged broadly over the fieldofchemical physics, including much theoretical work on dimensional scaling. Hismost acclaimed work, for which he won the Nobel Prize, was his collaboration oncrossed molecular beam experiments with Yuan T. Lee. Crossing collimatedbeams of gas-phase reactants allows partitioning of energy among translational,rotational, and vibrational modes of the product molecules—a vital aspect ofunderstanding reaction dynamics. He has applied his broad expertise in thetheory and practice of chemistry and physics to diverseproblems. A recent study of his demonstrated that methane is in factspontaneously formed at high pressure and high temperature environments such asthose deep in the Earth's mantle; this finding is an exciting indicationof abiogenic hydrocarbon formation, meaning that the actual amount ofhydrocarbons available on earth might be much larger than conventionallyassumed under the assumption that all hydrocarbons are fossil fuels.Hisrecent work also includes a collaboration with StevenBrams studying approval voting. Hershbach's teaching ranges fromgraduate seminars on chemical kinetics to an introductoryundergraduate course in general chemistry that he taught for many years atHarvard, and described as his "most challenging assignment."

Herschbachhas been a strong proponent of science education and science among the generalpublic, and frequently gives lectures to students of all ages, imbuing themwith his infectious enthusiasm for science and his playful spirit of discovery.Herschbach has also lent his voice to the animated television show TheSimpsons for the episode "Treehouse of Horror XIV" where heis seen presenting the Nobel Prize in Physics to ProfessorFrink.

Althoughstill an active research professor at Harvard, he joined the Texas A&MUniversity faculty September 1, 2005 as a Professor of Physics. As of2010, he holds the title of Professor Emeritus at Harvard, and remains wellknown for his involvement as a lecturer and mentor in the Harvard research community.He also served for several years as the Master of Currier House, where hewas highly involved in undergraduate life in addition to his full-time dutiesas a research professor.

He is aboard member of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation andwas the chairman of the board for Society for Science & thePublic from 1992-2010. He is also an Eagle Scout and recipientof the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (DESA). In 2003 he wasone of 21 Nobel Laureates who signed the Humanist Manifesto.

His wife,Georgene Herschbach, served as the Associate Dean of Harvard College forUndergraduate Academic Programs. Prior to retirement in 2009, she chairedHarvard College's influential Committee on Undergraduate Education.

Heparticipates in a program that brings Nobel Laureates to high schools. In Oct.2010, he is expected to participate in the USA Science and EngineeringFestival's Lunch with a Laureate program where middle and high school studentswill get to engage in an informal conversation with a Nobel Prize winning Scientistover a brown bag lunch. Herschbach is also a member of the USAScience and Engineering Festival's Advisory Board.