Alan J. Rocke鈥檚 work takes people across centuries and around the world. It showcases the imagination, creativity and dedication of its subjects. It opens up a world of science that most have never known.
As the Henry Eldridge Bourne Professor of History, Rocke鈥檚 work has garnered national and international acclaim, earning him a place among the foremost scholars of the history of the physical sciences. Now his scholarship鈥攁long with teaching and university service鈥攈ave earned the highest honor offered by Case Western Reserve University to its professoriate: the title of Distinguished University Professor.
The award of Distinguished University Professor is a permanent, honorific title recognizing the outstanding contributions of full-time, tenured professors with exceptional academic records of research, scholarship, teaching and service. Four other faculty members received this award at fall convocation along with Rocke.
Rocke鈥檚 academic career has been devoted to CWRU, as he joined the university in 1978 after completing his graduate studies at University of Wisconsin. Originally a chemistry student, Rocke discovered the history of science and 鈥渕ore or less fell in love with it,鈥� he said.
鈥淲hat I especially like about this field is that it bridges the so-called 鈥榯wo cultures鈥�: It investigates the essential character of science by examining its history, and likewise explores the enormous impact that scientific developments have had in the broad sweep of social, cultural, and intellectual history,鈥� Rocke said.
Throughout his 34 years in the College of Arts and Sciences, Rocke has been committed to advancing the university, serving three times as the chair of the Department of History and also helping design the .
鈥淧rofessor Rocke is esteemed internationally as a historian of the physical sciences, and he is a superb teacher and a consummate university citizen,鈥� said Cyrus Taylor, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淗e personifies the attributes sought in a Distinguished University Professor.鈥�
The undergraduate and graduate students he leads consistently rate him highly. His interdisciplinary, engaging teaching style earned him the university鈥檚 Carl F. Wittke Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching.
Rocke doesn鈥檛 limit his teaching solely to history of science courses. In particular, Rocke enjoys teaching the SAGES First Seminars, as the courses鈥� structure allows him to build meaningful relationships with the students. He also teaches a course called 鈥淔ood in History.鈥�
鈥淔ood so permeates our entire lives鈥攕ocially, culturally, nutritionally, and so on鈥攖hat examining its history brings together some of the most disparate and interesting parts of human existence,鈥� he explained.
His interdisciplinary approach to teaching also is mirrored in how he conducts his research. Rocke spends a good portion of nearly every summer toiling in the archives of European libraries and museums, melding the humanities and scientific research. He is perhaps best known for his contributions to understanding the development of chemistry and its applications in 19th century Europe, though his general expertise is in the history of the physical sciences during the 19th and 20th centuries. Throughout his career, Rocke has written four monographs, two translation and correspondence editions and nearly 50 scholarly articles that have appeared in some of the most significant journals in his field.
His most recent book, Image and Reality: Kekule, Kopp and the Scientific Imagination, told stories about the imagination and creativity that is so prevalent in science.
鈥淚 wanted to demonstrate the importance the imagination in intellectual endeavors, not just in the humanities and arts, but across the 鈥榟ard鈥� sciences as well,鈥� Rocke said.
Rocke鈥檚 contributions to science are so appreciated that he鈥檚 been named a fellow both of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the American Chemical Society. He has served as chair of the History and Philosophy of Science section of the AAAS. In 2000, Rocke received the Dexter Award for Outstanding Contributions to the History of Chemistry鈥攁 lifetime achievement award from the American Chemical Society.
Outside of his research and teaching responsibilities, Rocke鈥檚 interests vary widely but especially include music and dance. In fact, he met his wife through their mutual passions for international folk dance. He also enjoys travel and international cuisine.
鈥淪ince I teach the history of food, I consider eating and cooking an especially pleasant sort of course preparation,鈥� he joked.