Hugo Bondy (1900–1985): an Austrian scientist of mass spectrometry in the twentieth century

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungBegutachtung

Abstract

Hugo Bondy (1900–1985), a fairly unknown Austrian scientist working in academia in the twentieth century made important contributions to the development of double-focusing sector field mass spectrometers. This article describes his life and scientific contributions in a fascinating biography meriting his achievements in the development and construction of new mass spectrometers. The article divides into three sections according to Bondy’s biography. In the first section, his education, career in academia, and research in mass spectrometry are displayed. The second section reconstructs his expulsion from the university, his persecution and resistance in the Nazi era, and his failed attempt to be reinstated at his position as a scientist. In the third and last section, Bondy’s career in the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education is depicted by focusing on his youth work, a controversy of his political affiliations, and his accomplishments and character in the civil service. Bondy’s life is taken as an example to uncover the process of exclusion in science with all its consequences. But also, the ethical aspects of science for education and the application of a scientific attitude to society are revealed by his actions.
OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)293-323
Seitenumfang31
FachzeitschriftMonatshefte für Chemie = Chemical monthly
Jahrgang154.2023
Ausgabenummer4
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 21 März 2023

Bibliographische Notiz

Funding Information:
On February 24, 1934, Hugo Bondy’s contract as an unbesoldeter außer-ordentlicher Assistent with research grant was extended until May 31, 1936 [, , –]. Bondy was then officially promoted to Assistent III. Klasse during this contract on October 11, 1935 [, ]. In this time period, changes in the organization of the faculty influenced Bondy’s later career. The 1st Physical Institute and the 2nd Physical Institute, both under the leadership of Prof. Egon Schweidler, were officially united to one institute, the United 1st and 2nd Physical Institute (Vereinigtes I. und II. Physikalisches Institut). This was the result of the policy of the government to reduce the number of institutes at universities [, ]. At this newly formed institute, Hugo Bondy received a new position on December 14, 1935 as an Assistent III. Klasse, this time with salary []. However, his appointment by Prof. Schweidler sparked some resistance, specifically by the scientific staff of the 2nd Physical Institute. Due to general spending cuts, a fight over resources was caused between the institutes, which reached its peak by the unification of the 1st and 2nd Physical Institute [, ]. In a later statement to the dean of the faculty of philosophy directly after WWII about Bondy’s reinstatement, retrospectively, Prof. Eduard Haschek wrote:

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).

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