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Kenneth G. Libbrecht

ケネス・G・リブレクト

Kenneth G. Libbrecht

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1958-06-01 （Fargo, North Dakota, USA）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Fargo, North Dakota (birth / childhood) → University of North Dakota (one year) → California Institute of Technology (resident / employed) → Princeton (graduate student)

Career

Occupations
Physicist, University professor, Author, Photographer (snowflake photography), Science communicator
Active Years
1984-
Affiliations
California Institute of Technology (Professor, Physics)
Influenced By
Robert Dicke (doctoral advisor)

Education

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy / Department of Physics
Degree: B.S. (Physics)
Period: 1977-1980
Year of Graduation: 1980
Country: United States
Undergraduate studies in physics
Princeton University
Graduate School / Department of Physics
Degree: Ph.D.
Period: 1980-1984
Year of Graduation: 1984
Country: United States
PhD thesis on measurement of the Sun's shape as a test of general relativity

Awards

Newton Lacy Pierce Prize
1991
Organization: American Astronomical Society
Result: 受賞
National Outdoor Book Award (Nature & Environment)
2004
Work: The Snowflake
Category: Nature & Environment
Organization: National Outdoor Book Awards
Result: 受賞
IBPA Book Award
2004
Work: The Snowflake
Organization: Independent Book Publishers Association
Result: 受賞
Lennart Nilsson Award
2010
Organization: Lennart Nilsson Award (foundation/organizers)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Snowflake

2003 Popular science / Photography

A book explaining the formation and morphology of snow crystals with high-resolution photographs. It covers both the scientific background and photographic techniques used to document snowflakes.

snow crystalscrystal growthsymmetrymacro photography
Adaptations
  • [Stamp (postal issue)] United States Postal Service winter holiday stamps (snowflake designs) (2006)
  • [Stamp (postal issue)] PostNord (Sweden) snowflake stamps (2010)
  • [Film consulting] Frozen (consultant) / クリス・バック / ジェニファー・リー（代表） (2013)

Bibliography

  • The Snowflake
  • SnowCrystals.com (website: snow crystals and photography)

Adaptations

  • U.S. Postal Service 2006 winter stamps (featuring Libbrecht's snowflake photos)
  • PostNord (Sweden) 2010 stamps (featuring Libbrecht's snowflake photos)
  • Served as scientific consultant for the film Frozen (2013)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Scientific and explanatory, visually oriented with emphasis on photography
Recurring Motifs
snow crystalscrystal symmetrycomplexity of nature

Legacy

In addition to his research as a physicist, Libbrecht is widely known for high-precision photographs and popular explanations of snow crystals. Through postal stamp features, award-winning books, and film consulting, he has contributed to the visualization of science and public outreach.

Academic Societies

  • American Physical Society
  • American Astronomical Society

Archives

  • California Institute of Technology (possible holdings of related materials)

In Popular Culture

  • Scientific consultant for the film Frozen
  • Featured on U.S. Postal Service and PostNord stamps (2006, 2010)

Trivia

  • Four of his snowflake photographs were selected for U.S. Postal Service winter holiday stamps (2006), with a total printing reportedly around 3 billion stamps.
  • Won the National Outdoor Book Award in 2004 for his book The Snowflake.
  • Received the Lennart Nilsson Award in 2010; PostNord issued stamps featuring his images.
  • Maintains SnowCrystals.com, a leading site for snow crystal research and photography.
  • Served as a scientific consultant on snowflakes for the film Frozen (2013).