The Science Teacher You Wish You Had

3 minute read
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Caption from LIFE. "Laughing, Alyea compares the chain reaction of a nuclear explosion, represented by numerous E's on the blackboard, to propagation of rabbits."Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
By Ben Cosgrove

A jarring but necessary revelation that comes to all scientists, eventually, is that the daily practice and pursuit of knowledge isn’t the endless series of thrilling discoveries that they once envisioned. The “scientific method,” after all, is a fancy way of characterizing the slow, measured grind—the theorizing and experimenting—that defines so much scientific labor. Occasionally, though, teachers emerge with such engaging, energized ways of making science new again that, through their eyes (and occasionally through their antics) the universe regains its power to enthrall.

Hubert Alyea—a Princeton University professor famous for lively, colorful chemistry classes and public talks that were as much performance as professorship—was such a teacher. Alyea, who died in 1996 at the age of 93, lectured with an animated, dynamic style that drew enthusiastic audiences of all ages. In the photographs in this gallery, some of which were first published in LIFE in August 1953, his excitement is almost palpable.

“Grimacing with fiendish delight,” LIFE wrote of Alyea’s pyrotechnic teaching, “he sets off explosions, shoots water pistols and sprays his audience with carbon dioxide in the course of 32 harrowing experiments dramatizing complicated theory.” Alyea delivered his talk on the chemistry behind the atomic bomb and atomic energy about 2,800 times all over the world—burning several suits of clothing in the process.

[See the LIFE gallery, “The Day Einstein Died: A Photographer’s Story”]

Despite his own success, Alyea was well aware of the challenges that got in the way of similar science demonstrations in communities the world over. He developed an inexpensive “armchair chemistry” kit to be used in conjunction with an overhead projection system. This technique allowed for science demonstrations not only throughout the United States but in countries like Thailand, India and Mexico. His fame was noted as far away as Hollywood; the popular 1961 Disney film, The Absent-Minded Professor, starred Fred MacMurray as professor Ned Brainard, whose manic mannerisms in the title role were reportedly modeled largely on Alyea’s.

Alyea’s affiliation with Princeton, meanwhile, was a long one. After earning an undergraduate degree there, he returned for a Ph.D. in 1928. He continued to deliver his hugely popular, poetry-and-ad-lib-filled lectures at Princeton reunions for years after his retirement. (He was on the faculty for 42 years.) He earned honorary degrees and teaching awards from colleges and teachers’ associations around the country.

Here, LIFE.com again honors Hubert Alyea: an educator who made learning part magic and part mayhem for laymen and scientists alike, with a delivery that was nearly as explosive as the science itself.

Tara Thean is a freelance writer and graduate student in biological sciences at Cambridge University. Follow her on Twitter @tarathean.

Princeton professor Hubert Alyea lecturing on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Not published in LIFE. Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Not published in LIFE. Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Caption from LIFE. "Puff of smoke and flame shoots from mixture of turpentine and nitric acid to illustrate principle that explosions must be fast to be furious."Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Caption from LIFE. "Laughing, Alyea compares the chain reaction of a nuclear explosion, represented by numerous E's on the blackboard, to propagation of rabbits."Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Not published in LIFE. The audience at a talk by Princeton professor Hubert Alyea on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Not published in LIFE. Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Not published in LIFE. Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Caption from LIFE. "Shooting off fire extinguishers, Alyea dashes up aisle of a lecture auditorium filled with Princeton graduates and their families. As he releases clouds of rapidly expanding carbon dioxide over the heads of his startled audience, he explains, "Gas smothers flame by keeping away oxygen, like this ..."Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Not published in LIFE. Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Not published in LIFE. Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Not published in LIFE. Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Not published in LIFE. Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Not published in LIFE. Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Not published in LIFE. Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea lecturing on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Not published in LIFE. Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Caption from LIFE. "Waving a doll to emphasize role of 'Mother Nature' in transmutation, Alyea says, 'Never underestimate the power of a woman.'"Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Hubert Alyea, 1953
Caption from LIFE. "Shooting a toy gun whose paper-coil missile returns to the muzzle without ever reaching target. Alyea illustrates theory of mutual repulsion of similarly charged uranium and helium particles."Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Professor Hubert Alyea ignites a mixture of potassium chlorate and sugar during his talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, Princeton, 1953.
Not published in LIFE. Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953. Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a lecture on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.
Not published in LIFE. Princeton professor Hubert Alyea delivering a talk on the chemistry of the atomic bomb, 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
The audience at one of Princeton professor Hubert Alyea's popular talks on the chemistry of the atomic bomb applauds Alyea in 1953.
Not published in LIFE. The audience at one of Princeton professor Hubert Alyea's popular talks on the chemistry of the atomic bomb applauds Alyea in 1953.Yale Joel—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

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