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Surendra Saxena

Ganguly, Jibamitra - (ganguly)

Thu, Jun 25, 2026 3:10 PM

We regret to inform you that Professor Surendra Saxena, a towering figure in our field, passed away last week at the age of eighty-nine in a hospital in Miami, Florida.
Surendra was a leading figure in the development of the field of Thermodynamics of Natural Systems, in both theoretical aspects and applications to problems in the Earth and Planetary Sciences, ranging from nebular condensation to properties and processes within the Earth’s crust and deep interior. He published over 450 peer-reviewed/invited papers in the fields of Earth and Planetary Science, High-pressure Physics, and Materials Science. In addition, he published 7 books and edited volumes, beginning as early as 1973 as a sole author of the classic Thermodynamics of Rock Forming Crystalline Solutions. This book was an outgrowth of his self-study as he transformed from a sedimentary petrologist by his Indian education to a metamorphic petrologist, working with Hans Ramberg for his Ph.D. at Uppsala University, Sweden. He was also the founding editor-in-chief of the 10-volume Springer-Verlag series on Advances in Physical Geochemistry, for which he served as the sole editor for four volumes.
Surendra was a professor at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, later at Uppsala University in Sweden, and at Florida International University (FIU). While at Uppsala, he developed an interest in experimental studies under ultra-high pressure-temperature conditions and established a laser-heated diamond anvil laboratory equipped with in situ X-ray diffraction and Raman Spectroscopic study. He carried this line of research to FIU where he founded the Center for Study of Matter under Extreme Conditions and organized bi-annual symposiums drawing scientists from multiple fields, organizations, and countries. With time, Surendra’s research branched out to Materials Science and Green Energy problems.
During his long and highly productive career, Surendra mentored many Ph.D. students, including one of us (Fei), and post-doctoral scholars. While at Uppsala, Surendra was elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences that is responsible for awarding the Nobel Prizes in science.
Surendra was born and raised in the Indian province Madhya Pradesh. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Mona Saxena, son Manu, daughter Maya and a granddaughter. Surendra was a very easy-going, unselfish and delightful personality. His absence will be acutely felt by the professional field, and he will be greatly missed by all who have known him personally.

Jiba Ganguly, University of Arizona, USA
Yingwei Fei, Carnegie Institution for Science, USA

Jibamitra Ganguly
Professor Emeritus, Department of Geosciences
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Gangul http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Gangulyy
https://www.springer.com/in/book/9783030208783
http://www.insaindia.res.in/pdf/Megnad_Saha.pdf

We regret to inform you that Professor Surendra Saxena, a towering figure in our field, passed away last week at the age of eighty-nine in a hospital in Miami, Florida. Surendra was a leading figure in the development of the field of Thermodynamics of Natural Systems, in both theoretical aspects and applications to problems in the Earth and Planetary Sciences, ranging from nebular condensation to properties and processes within the Earth’s crust and deep interior. He published over 450 peer-reviewed/invited papers in the fields of Earth and Planetary Science, High-pressure Physics, and Materials Science. In addition, he published 7 books and edited volumes, beginning as early as 1973 as a sole author of the classic Thermodynamics of Rock Forming Crystalline Solutions. This book was an outgrowth of his self-study as he transformed from a sedimentary petrologist by his Indian education to a metamorphic petrologist, working with Hans Ramberg for his Ph.D. at Uppsala University, Sweden. He was also the founding editor-in-chief of the 10-volume Springer-Verlag series on Advances in Physical Geochemistry, for which he served as the sole editor for four volumes. Surendra was a professor at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, later at Uppsala University in Sweden, and at Florida International University (FIU). While at Uppsala, he developed an interest in experimental studies under ultra-high pressure-temperature conditions and established a laser-heated diamond anvil laboratory equipped with in situ X-ray diffraction and Raman Spectroscopic study. He carried this line of research to FIU where he founded the Center for Study of Matter under Extreme Conditions and organized bi-annual symposiums drawing scientists from multiple fields, organizations, and countries. With time, Surendra’s research branched out to Materials Science and Green Energy problems. During his long and highly productive career, Surendra mentored many Ph.D. students, including one of us (Fei), and post-doctoral scholars. While at Uppsala, Surendra was elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences that is responsible for awarding the Nobel Prizes in science. Surendra was born and raised in the Indian province Madhya Pradesh. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Mona Saxena, son Manu, daughter Maya and a granddaughter. Surendra was a very easy-going, unselfish and delightful personality. His absence will be acutely felt by the professional field, and he will be greatly missed by all who have known him personally. Jiba Ganguly, University of Arizona, USA Yingwei Fei, Carnegie Institution for Science, USA ----------------------------------------- Jibamitra Ganguly Professor Emeritus, Department of Geosciences University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721, USA http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Gangul<http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Ganguly>y https://www.springer.com/in/book/9783030208783 http://www.insaindia.res.in/pdf/Megnad_Saha.pdf

George Harlow

Thu, Jun 25, 2026 4:33 PM

George E. Harlow, Curator emeritus gharlow@amnh.org mailto:gharlow@amnh.org
Dept. Earth and Planetary Sciences
American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5102 U.S.A.
Phone (212)769-5378 FAX (212)769-5533
WWW: http://www.amnh.org/our-research/staff-directory/george-e.-harlow
http://research.amnh.org/eps/jade/

From: Ganguly, Jibamitra - (ganguly) via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2026 11:11 AM
To: David Dolejs via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Subject: [MSA-talk] Surendra Saxena

EXTERNAL SENDER

We regret to inform you that Professor Surendra Saxena, a towering figure in our field, passed away last week at the age of eighty-nine in a hospital in Miami, Florida.
Surendra was a leading figure in the development of the field of Thermodynamics of Natural Systems, in both theoretical aspects and applications to problems in the Earth and Planetary Sciences, ranging from nebular condensation to properties and processes within the Earth's crust and deep interior. He published over 450 peer-reviewed/invited papers in the fields of Earth and Planetary Science, High-pressure Physics, and Materials Science. In addition, he published 7 books and edited volumes, beginning as early as 1973 as a sole author of the classic Thermodynamics of Rock Forming Crystalline Solutions. This book was an outgrowth of his self-study as he transformed from a sedimentary petrologist by his Indian education to a metamorphic petrologist, working with Hans Ramberg for his Ph.D. at Uppsala University, Sweden. He was also the founding editor-in-chief of the 10-volume Springer-Verlag series on Advances in Physical Geochemistry, for which he served as the sole editor for four volumes.
Surendra was a professor at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, later at Uppsala University in Sweden, and at Florida International University (FIU). While at Uppsala, he developed an interest in experimental studies under ultra-high pressure-temperature conditions and established a laser-heated diamond anvil laboratory equipped with in situ X-ray diffraction and Raman Spectroscopic study. He carried this line of research to FIU where he founded the Center for Study of Matter under Extreme Conditions and organized bi-annual symposiums drawing scientists from multiple fields, organizations, and countries. With time, Surendra's research branched out to Materials Science and Green Energy problems.
During his long and highly productive career, Surendra mentored many Ph.D. students, including one of us (Fei), and post-doctoral scholars. While at Uppsala, Surendra was elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences that is responsible for awarding the Nobel Prizes in science.
Surendra was born and raised in the Indian province Madhya Pradesh. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Mona Saxena, son Manu, daughter Maya and a granddaughter. Surendra was a very easy-going, unselfish and delightful personality. His absence will be acutely felt by the professional field, and he will be greatly missed by all who have known him personally.

Jiba Ganguly, University of Arizona, USA
Yingwei Fei, Carnegie Institution for Science, USA

Jiba and Fei, This is sad news of the passing of another leader in our fields. Saxena was a force to be reckoned with as I remember from my first encounters with him when he was at Brooklyn College. Best, George George E. Harlow, Curator emeritus gharlow@amnh.org<mailto:gharlow@amnh.org> Dept. Earth and Planetary Sciences American Museum of Natural History 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5102 U.S.A. Phone (212)769-5378 FAX (212)769-5533 WWW: http://www.amnh.org/our-research/staff-directory/george-e.-harlow http://research.amnh.org/eps/jade/ From: Ganguly, Jibamitra - (ganguly) via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2026 11:11 AM To: David Dolejs via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> Subject: [MSA-talk] Surendra Saxena EXTERNAL SENDER We regret to inform you that Professor Surendra Saxena, a towering figure in our field, passed away last week at the age of eighty-nine in a hospital in Miami, Florida. Surendra was a leading figure in the development of the field of Thermodynamics of Natural Systems, in both theoretical aspects and applications to problems in the Earth and Planetary Sciences, ranging from nebular condensation to properties and processes within the Earth's crust and deep interior. He published over 450 peer-reviewed/invited papers in the fields of Earth and Planetary Science, High-pressure Physics, and Materials Science. In addition, he published 7 books and edited volumes, beginning as early as 1973 as a sole author of the classic Thermodynamics of Rock Forming Crystalline Solutions. This book was an outgrowth of his self-study as he transformed from a sedimentary petrologist by his Indian education to a metamorphic petrologist, working with Hans Ramberg for his Ph.D. at Uppsala University, Sweden. He was also the founding editor-in-chief of the 10-volume Springer-Verlag series on Advances in Physical Geochemistry, for which he served as the sole editor for four volumes. Surendra was a professor at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, later at Uppsala University in Sweden, and at Florida International University (FIU). While at Uppsala, he developed an interest in experimental studies under ultra-high pressure-temperature conditions and established a laser-heated diamond anvil laboratory equipped with in situ X-ray diffraction and Raman Spectroscopic study. He carried this line of research to FIU where he founded the Center for Study of Matter under Extreme Conditions and organized bi-annual symposiums drawing scientists from multiple fields, organizations, and countries. With time, Surendra's research branched out to Materials Science and Green Energy problems. During his long and highly productive career, Surendra mentored many Ph.D. students, including one of us (Fei), and post-doctoral scholars. While at Uppsala, Surendra was elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences that is responsible for awarding the Nobel Prizes in science. Surendra was born and raised in the Indian province Madhya Pradesh. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Mona Saxena, son Manu, daughter Maya and a granddaughter. Surendra was a very easy-going, unselfish and delightful personality. His absence will be acutely felt by the professional field, and he will be greatly missed by all who have known him personally. Jiba Ganguly, University of Arizona, USA Yingwei Fei, Carnegie Institution for Science, USA ----------------------------------------- Jibamitra Ganguly Professor Emeritus, Department of Geosciences University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721, USA http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Gangul<http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Ganguly>y https://www.springer.com/in/book/9783030208783 http://www.insaindia.res.in/pdf/Megnad_Saha.pdf