Martin Blank, Ph.D., Leading Bioelectromagnetics Research Scientist, Passes Away
June 24 2018 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
Martin Blank, Ph.D., Retired Associate Professor, Columbia
University, Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, who
made many lasting contributions to science and was beloved within
the scientific community, passed away of natural causes in his
son’s care on June 13, 2018 in Las Vegas, NV. He was 85.
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Martin Blank, Ph.D., Columbia University
Bioelectromagnetics Researcher, Passes Away (Photo: Business
Wire)
Dr. Blank was one of the strongest voices globally in the quest
to better understand and regulate the health effects of
electromagnetic fields (EMF). He was an ardent advocate for the
precautionary principle, using science to create a safer, healthier
world.
Dr. Blank was a faculty member at Columbia University for 35
years until his retirement in 2012. Throughout his career, Dr.
Blank published over 200 papers and reviews; edited 11 books on the
electrical properties of biological systems and held appointments
at 11 leading universities around the world, as well as at the U.S.
Office of Naval Research. He gave hundreds of lectures and
organized or led numerous meetings, including two World Congresses
on Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and Medicine. He served as
President of both the Bioelectrochemical Society and the
Bioelectromagnetics Society, as well as on several scientific
journal editorial boards.
Dr. Blank completed two PhDs: one in Physical Chemistry from
Columbia University, and a second in Colloid Science, an
interdisciplinary field involving biology, chemistry, and physics
from Cambridge University. His later research focused on EMF
effects on the cellular stress response, and on DNA, and he warned
vehemently about risks from the proliferation of wireless
technologies.
In 2015 he led a scientist appeal to the United Nations and the
World Health Organization, calling for greater attention to the
health risks of EMFs. Currently there are 240 scientists from 41
nations with published peer-reviewed EMF papers as signatories to
the International EMF Scientist Appeal, unified in the opinion that
the body of research on EMF bioeffects is not only compelling, but
urgent.
For the lay audience, he wrote “Overpowered: The Dangers of
Electromagnetic Radiation and What You Can Do About It” (2014).
Dr. Blank is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marion Blank,
PhD, retired Co-Director of the Developmental Neuropsychiatry
Program at Columbia University; sons, Jonathan and Ari; daughter,
Donna; and siblings Esther and Efrom.
Donations in Dr. Blank’s honor may be made, by family request,
to The Electromagnetic Safety Alliance at
https://emsafetyalliance.org
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Ari Blank (son)(310) 929–0147rblank9@gmail.comorElectromagnetic
Safety AllianceElizabeth Kelley,
520-219-4878https://emsafetyalliance.org