Dr. Piersma retired from Houghton in 2004.

                     currently He currently resides in Florida but can still be

                                    contacted via e-mail.                

 contacted

                                    Send e-mail to Dr. Bernard Piersma

Dr. Bernard J. Piersma is a physical chemist with specialties in electrochemistry and analytical chemistry, including extensive research into pacemaker electrodes and room-temperature molten salts. He holds the B.A. in chemistry from Colgate University, the M.S. in chemistry from St. Lawrence University, and the Ph.D. in physical chemistry from University of Pennsylvania, where he worked under Dr. J.O'M. Bockris. Before coming to Houghton College, he served as a teaching assistant at St. Lawrence University, a professor of chemistry at Eastern college, and a National Academy of Sciences/ National Research Council Postdoctoral Resident Research Associate at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. 

    Dr. Piersma came to Houghton College to do research on electrodes for the implantable cardiac pacemaker, as well as to teach physical chemistry. Since coming to Houghton he has also done electrochemical research on room-temperature molten salts. He initiated this research during a one-year sabbatical leave as University Resident Research Professor at Frank J. Seiler Research Laboratory of the U.S. Air Force Academy, and he expanded the research during three appointments as Summer Faculty Research Professor at the Seiler Laboratory. In his most recent sabbatical year, Dr. Piersma served as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Chemistry at the Air Force Academy. 

    Among his academic and professional honors are graduate election to Gamma Sigma Epsilon, a chemistry honorary fraternity, listing in American Men and Women of Science, 16th Edition, and selection for an Outstanding Educator of America Award. He is a member of the American Chemical Society and the Electrochemical Society. He has also been an active member of the American Scientific Affiliation, being elected a Fellow, and serving as Book Review Editor of its Journal, as well as Chairman of its Physical Sciences Commission. 

        Outside the classroom, Dr. Piersma enjoys archery, camping fishing, hunting, basketball, crafts, and reading/writing about the topic of origins. Students respect him for his high academic standards, extensive publications, laboratory precision, and soft-spoken compassionate nature. As one student commented, "Dr. Piersma is always available to help students who are willing to work in order to learn."