Robert E. Connick
Born(1917-07-29)July 29, 1917
Humboldt, California, United States
DiedAugust 21, 2014(2014-08-21) (aged 97)
Contra Costa, California, United States
CitizenshipUnited States
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsChemistry

Robert E. Connick (July 29, 1917 – August 21, 2014) was a professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley.[1]

Life

Connick studied chemistry at Berkeley, receiving his B.S. in 1939 and his Ph.D. in 1942. He was a research associate on the Manhattan Project from 1943 - 1946, and has been a professor, chair of the chemistry department, dean of the college of chemistry, vice chancellor,[2] and chair of the academic senate at both Berkeley and the entire University of California system.

His research led to growth and improvement in inorganic reaction kinetics and mechanisms. He is most known for development of nuclear magnetic resonance methods for determining rates of water exchange reactions. During his time with the Manhattan Project, Connick contributed research to the fundamental chemical properties of plutonium, during a time when only minute amounts were accessible, and helped devise its separation techniques. Connick’s studies revealed plutonium’s complicated oxidation-reduction properties and the existence of many ions. The results showed scientific basis for the various practical separation processes developed during and since World War II.

He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1963. He was a 1968 G.N. Lewis Lecturer and Awardee.[3] He was a two-time Guggenheim Fellow, in 1948 and 1958.[4] Connick also served as a Counselor for the Save the Redwoods League. Connick died at the age of 97 in 2014.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "California, Birth Index, 1905-1995". FamilySearch. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "University of California - UC Newsroom | High-temperature chemist Leo Brewer has died at 85". Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
  3. ↑ "UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry - Prizes and Endowed Lectureships". Archived from the original on 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
  4. ↑ "Connick's page at Berkeley". University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  5. ↑ "UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry - News and Publications - Robert e. Connick (1917-2014)". Archived from the original on 2014-09-07. Retrieved 2014-09-07.



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