Gerard Piel--president from 1946 to 1984 and publisher from 1948 to 1984 of the Scientific American and chairman of the board from 1985 to 1987--has been a proponent of science information and education for the public and one of those most responsible for demystifying science. During the atomic age--even in the years of the cold war--he has been one of the nation's strongest advocates of open science information and opponents of censorship.

With only a few years of experience in magazine journalism, Piel transformed a moribund periodical into the preeminent science magazine of its day. He was able to convince prominent scientists to write for the public as well as for other scientists at a time when public policy questions in the realm of science were freighted with enormous political, military, and environmental significance. Although now retired from active management of the magazine, he continues to work, and he will be remembered for...