Paul Michael Grant

Paul Grant was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, on 9 May 1935, and he lived a full and active life. He passed away on 20 December 2023 in Ajijic, Mexico.

In 1953 Paul joined IBM as a technician working on the SAGE computer defense system, commencing what was to become a 40-year career with IBM. He was able to take advantage of IBM’s educational leave-of-absence program to obtain a BS from Clarkson University (1960) and a PhD from Harvard (1965) in applied physics. After his PhD, he returned to IBM as a research staff member at the new San Jose/Almaden IBM Research Laboratory in California. At Almaden, he pursued a variety of basic research studies on the physical properties of magnetic semiconductors, organic and polymer metals, and copper oxide high-temperature superconductors. From 1987–91, he became deeply involved in and associated with the initial period of basic research on copper oxide superconductivity, and he managed IBM Almaden’s successful research program in this area. During this period, he was designated as an IBM corporate spokesperson on high-temperature superconductivity based on his extraordinary skill as a communicator (both verbal and written) on science and technology to the popular press.

In 1993, Paul retired from IBM to accept a position as Science Fellow at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), where he oversaw an annual $5 million program on exploratory studies of wide-bandgap semiconductors and power applications of superconductivity. In addition, he served as a consultant to EPRI’s executive management and utility membership on a broad range of energy science issues, such as hydrogen, fusion, fission, superconducting transmission cables, and photovoltaic generation of electricity. In 2000, in collaboration with Chauncey Starr (EPRI’s founder), he developed the concept of the SuperGrid, a symbiosis of nuclear, hydrogen, superconductivity, solar-PV, and urban biomass combustion technologies for supplying “Green Energy.” This was the theme of an article he and Chauncey published in Scientific American in 2006. In 2004, Paul retired from EPRI to start a consultancy practice, W2AGZ Technologies. He continued to write and lecture on general energy issues as well as the SuperGrid vision until a few years ago, when his health declined.

Paul published more than 120 papers in scientific journals, and he was a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the Institute of Physics (UK). Moreover, he was well known for his numerous articles on science and energy issues in the popular press, which earned him several awards as a science writer and commentator. These are in addition to editorials and interviews on various political, social, and scientific issues, which appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, the San Jose Mercury News, and Nature. He wrote more than a dozen commentaries and book reviews for Nature and its companion publications. The full extent of his prolific science writing can be found on his website . In 2014, he received the first Distinguished Lectureship Award on the Applications of Physics from the American Physical Society, and he toured a number of US universities lecturing undergraduate and graduate physics students on the merits of careers in industry and public service.

Paul was a true Renaissance man. He had a deep knowledge and interest in history such that people who had just met him often thought he was a history professor and not a scientist. He often used historical references in his science writings. He was also an outstanding athlete and loved all outdoors activities, such as snow and water skiing, rock climbing, and hiking. He learned to ski at age 5, and he served as a volunteer member of various mountain rescue and avalanche control organizations at ski resorts until his late 60s. Paul was a great fan of rock music, in particular The Rolling Stones. He lived his life by their words: “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime you’ll find you get what you need.” He was an exemplary father for his five children. Paul was my good friend and scientific collaborator for more than 50 years. Those of us who knew him well will miss his intellect, sense of humor, and stimulating questions on all aspects of life.

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