# George Wald

_American biologist, biochemist, physiologist and Nobel laureate (1906–1997)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/george-wald
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> George Wald (November 18, 1906 – April 12, 1997) was an American scientist and activist who studied pigments in the retina.  He won a share of the 1967 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Haldan Keffer Hartline and Ragnar Granit.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 18 November 1906 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q295724#P569))
- **Place of birth:** New York City ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q295724#P19))
- **Died:** 12 April 1997 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q295724#P570))
- **Place of death:** Cambridge ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q295724#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q295724#P27))
- **Occupation:** neuroscientist; physician; biochemist; chemist; physiologist; researcher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q295724#P106))
- **Education:** Columbia University; New York University; Brooklyn Technical High School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q295724#P69))
- **Awards:** Guggenheim Fellowship; Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research; Rumford Prize; Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; Frederic Ives Medal; honorary doctor of the University of Rennes ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q295724#P166))

## About

In 1970, Wald predicted that “civilization will end within 15 or 30 years unless immediate action is taken against problems facing mankind.”

## Questions

**When was George Wald born?**  
George Wald was born on 18 November 1906 in New York City.

**Where did George Wald study?**  
George Wald was educated at Columbia University, New York University, Brooklyn Technical High School.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): George Wald](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Wald) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q295724](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q295724) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: George Wald 1987.jpg by Molendijk, Bart / Anefo (CC0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_Wald_1987.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article George Wald, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: George Wald 1987.jpg — Molendijk, Bart / Anefo, CC0.

## Cite this page

"George Wald". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/george-wald. Retrieved 15 November 2026.