W. H. Stockmayer
Dartmouth College
April 7, 1914 - May 9, 2004
|
Scientific Discipline: Chemistry Membership Type:
Emeritus
(elected 1956)
|
Walter Stockmayer was one of the leading polymer scientists of the 20th century. An expert at elucidating the structure and the dynamics of polymer molecules, he also contributed greatly to the development of light scattering theory. In addition, he studied the thermodynamics of gaseous mixtures and participated in classified war research at Columbia University during World War II.
Stockmayer earned his BS degree in 1935 and his PhD in 1940 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After his time serving as a research chemist during World War II, he returned to MIT to teach. In 1961 he accepted a position at Dartmouth College as chairman of the Chemistry Department. He served as the founding associate editor of Macromolecules, published by the American Chemical Society. In 1987 President Ronald Reagan awarded him the National Medal of Science.
