With speaker Dr. Michael Vigorito

Professor Joseph Henry (1797–1878), a pioneering American physicist and the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, made significant contributions to both scientific innovation and public service.

At the U.S. Lighthouse Depot on Staten Island, Henry spearheaded efforts to modernize America’s lighthouse system. His experiments and innovations enhanced maritime safety by improving lighthouse technology.

Henry also recognized the importance of meteorological data for public safety, laying the groundwork for the eventual creation of the U.S. Weather Bureau. His contributions reflect a legacy of using science to advance both public welfare and knowledge, particularly at the intersection of maritime safety and meteorology.

About the Speaker: Dr. Vigorito has been a full-time faculty member of the Psychology Department at Seton Hall University since 1989. He received his doctorate in Experimental Psychology at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and post-doctoral training in behavioral pharmacology at Rutgers University.