Dr. George Fischbeck
From the 2013 Newsletters
If you watched a particular TV weatherman in Albuquerque in the 1970s, or in Los Angeles more recently, you were watching a former President of NMAS.
He began his career as a science teacher at Ernie Pyle Junior High in Albuquerque and eventually became the “Television Science Teacher” for the Albuquerque Public Schools. In 1961 he won the National Education Television Award. In 1965 he was elected President of the NMAS. In 1970 he was awarded Outstanding NM Science Teacher.
He went on to educate the general public in Albuquerque and Los Angeles. This year he will be honored by the City of Albuquerque as the first inductee onto the Albuquerque Wall of Fame. And, at the same time, the NMAS will give him our highest honor, the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Science and Science Education in New Mexico.
Former NMAS President Named First Inductee of Albuquerque’s Wall of Fame
Dr. George Fischbeck was named the first inductee of Albuquerque’s Wall of Fame at the Alvarado Travel Center in Albuquerque on July 8, 2013. Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry honored Dr. George, and introduced a host of dignititaries, including NMAS President Dr. Kurt Anderson, who added to the induction ceremony by presenting Dr. George with the Academy’s highest honor, the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Science and Science Education in New Mexico. The award consists of an engraved crystal cube and certificate.
Dr. Fischbeck began his professional career as a science teacher at Ernie Pyle Junior High in Albu- querque and eventually became the “Television Science Teacher” for the Albuquerque Public Schools with a science show for students on PBS. In 1961 he won the National Education Television Award. Dr
George was an important part of NMAS in the 60s and 70s. He served as President of NMAS in 1965 and in 1970 was honored with an ”Outstanding New Mexico Science Teacher Award” by NMAS.
In 1970, Dr. George went on to educate the general public in science as a TV meteorologist first at KOB-TV in Albuquerque and then at KABC-TV in Los Angeles. But his impact on the students of New Mexico has never been forgotten. He was the face of science for hundreds of thousands of New Mexico’s children for 25 years; with an influence so widespread, it’s estimated that by the early 1970s, 25% of New Mexicos residents learned science from him either through the classroom or television. And though he achieved great fame as a TV weatherman in Southern California, he never forgot his New Mexico roots.