James Stanley Trefil | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 10, 1938 Chicago, Illinois |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois, Oxford University, Stanford University |
| Known for | Professor of Physics, Published works focus on science for a general audience |
| Spouses | Elinor Pletka
(m. 1960; div. 1972)Jeanne Waples
(m. 1973; div. 1997)Kim Gareiss
(m. 1999, divorced)Wanda O'Brien (m. 2005) |
| Children | 5 |
| Awards | 2000 Andrew Gemant Award, 2007 Science Writing Award |
James Stanley Trefil (born September 10, 1938) is an American physicist (Ph.D. in physics at Stanford University in 1966) and author of nearly fifty books. Much of his published work focuses on science for the general audience. He has served as Professor of Physics at the University of Virginia and, since 1988, as Robinson Professor of Physics at George Mason University. Among his books is Are We Unique?, an argument for human uniqueness in which he questions the comparisons between human intelligence and artificial intelligence. Trefil has also given presentations to judges and public officials about the intersections between science and the law.