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'''Michael Szwarc''' (9 June 1909, [[Będzin]], [[Poland]] – 4 August 2000, United States) was a [[Great Britain|British]] and [[USA|American]] [[polymer]] chemist who discovered and studied ionic [[living polymerization]].
'''Michael Szwarc''' (9 June 1909, [[Będzin]], [[Poland]] &ndash; 4 August 2000, [[San Diego]], California)<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Szwarc |url=https://oh.sciencehistory.org/oral-histories/szwarc-michael |website=Center for Oral History |publisher=Science History Institute |access-date=21 July 2020}}</ref> was a [[Great Britain|British]] and American [[polymer]] chemist who discovered and studied ionic [[living polymerization]].


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Michael Mojzesz Szwarc was born into a Polish-Jewish family in Będzin, Poland. In 1932 he received the title of engineer in chemistry at the [[Warsaw University of Technology]]. In 1935 he emigrated to [[Palestine]], where he joined his sister and cousin. In 1942 he defended his first Ph.D. dissertation in organic chemistry at [[Hebrew University]] in [[Jerusalem]].<ref name="Penczek">{{cite doi|10.1098/rsbm.2006.0025}}</ref>
Michael Mojżesz Szwarc was born into a Polish-Jewish family in Będzin, Poland. In 1932 he received the title of engineer in chemistry at the [[Warsaw University of Technology]]. In 1935 he emigrated to [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], where he joined his sister and cousin. In 1942 he defended his first Ph.D. [[dissertation]] in organic chemistry at [[Hebrew University]] in [[Jerusalem]].<ref name="Penczek">{{Cite journal | last1 = Jagur-Grodzinski | first1 = J. | last2 = Penczek | first2 = S. | doi = 10.1098/rsbm.2006.0025 | title = Michael Szwarc. 19 June 1909 -- 4 August 2000: Elected FRS 1966 | journal = [[Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society]] | volume = 52 | pages = 365 | year = 2006 | doi-access = free }}</ref>


In 1945 he joined [[Michael Polanyi]]'s research group at the [[University of Manchester]] in the [[United Kingdom|UK]]. In 1947 he defended his second Ph.D. thesis, this time in [[physical chemistry]]. Two years later, he was awarded D.Sc. for work on measurements of energy distribution of [[chemical bond]]s, and was promoted to senior lecturer at the University of Manchester.<ref name="Penczek" />
In 1945 he joined [[Michael Polanyi]]'s research group at the [[University of Manchester]] in the [[United Kingdom|UK]]. In 1947 he defended his second Ph.D. thesis, this time in [[physical chemistry]]. Two years later, he was awarded D.Sc. for work on measurements of energy distribution of [[chemical bond]]s, and was promoted to senior lecturer at the University of Manchester.<ref name="Penczek" />


In 1952 Michael Szwarc moved to the United States and was a professor of physical chemistry and polymers at the [[State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry]] in [[Syracuse (New York)|Syracuse]].<ref name="suny">{{cite web|url=http://www.esf.edu/chemistry/szwarc.htm|title=Michael Szwarc-biography|author=WT Winter|date =8/4/2000|publisher=SUNY-ESF, Department of Chemistry}}</ref> He created his own research team at SUNY, developing [[living polymerization]] techniques in accordance with his long-term program published in ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' in 1956, in which he introduced the living polymerization term for the first time.<ref name="Nature">{{Cite journal | last1 = Szwarc | first1 = M. | title = 'Living' Polymers | doi = 10.1038/1781168a0 | journal = Nature | volume = 178 | issue = 4543 | pages = 1168 | year = 1956 | pmid = | pmc = }}</ref> In 1964 he received a ''Distinguished Professor'' at SUNY, and in 1967 he founded the Center for Research Polymers, which he led until his retirement in 1979.<ref name = "suny" />
In 1952 Michael Szwarc moved to the United States and was a professor of physical chemistry and polymers at the [[State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry]] in [[Syracuse (New York)|Syracuse]].<ref name="suny">{{cite web|url=http://www.esf.edu/chemistry/szwarc.htm|title=Michael Szwarc-biography|author=WT Winter|date =4 August 2000|publisher=SUNY-ESF, Department of Chemistry}}</ref> He created his own research team at SUNY, developing [[living polymerization]] techniques in accordance with his long-term program published in ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' in 1956, in which he introduced the living polymerization term for the first time.<ref name="Nature">{{Cite journal | last1 = Szwarc | first1 = M. | title = 'Living' Polymers | doi = 10.1038/1781168a0 | journal = Nature | volume = 178 | issue = 4543 | pages = 1168–1169 | year = 1956 | bibcode = 1956Natur.178.1168S | s2cid = 4266406 }}</ref> In 1964 he received a ''Distinguished Professor'' at SUNY, and in 1967 he founded the Center for Research Polymers, which he led until his retirement in 1979.<ref name = "suny" />


At SUNY he was a consultant for scientific projects conducted by [[Union Carbide]], [[Dow Corning]], [[Dow Chemical]] and [[3M]]. After retirement he moved to [[Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute]] at [[University of Southern California|USC]], where he continued his scientific work, in collaboration with former students from SUNY. He focused on solving practical problems associated with the living polymerization techniques in the industry. He also wrote several books and monographs about polymer chemistry synthesis.<ref name="Penczek" />
At SUNY he was a consultant for scientific projects conducted by [[Union Carbide]], [[Dow Corning]], [[Dow Chemical]] and [[3M]]. After retirement he moved to [[Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute]] at [[University of Southern California|USC]], where he continued his scientific work, in collaboration with former students from SUNY. He focused on solving practical problems associated with the living polymerization techniques in the industry. He also wrote several books and monographs about polymer chemistry synthesis.<ref name="Penczek" />


Michael Szwarc and his Polish wife, Marysia, had three children - a son and two daughters. He played piano and was a long-distance [[Open water swimming|open water swimmer]].<ref name="Penczek" />
Michael Szwarc and his Polish wife, Marysia (Maria), had three children - a son and two daughters. He played piano and was a long-distance [[Open water swimming|open water swimmer]].<ref name="Penczek" />


== Awards and memberships ==
== Awards and memberships ==
*Member of [[The Royal Society]] (1966)<ref name="Penczek" />
*Fellow of [[The Royal Society]] (1966)<ref name="Penczek" />
*Foreign member of [[Nobel Prize]] Committee (1968–72)
*Foreign member of [[Nobel Prize]] Committee (1968–72)
*The [[American Chemical Society]] Award: ''Witco Award in Polymer Chemistry'' (1969); ''Award of the Division of Polymer Chemistry'' (1990)<ref name="suny" />
*The [[American Chemical Society]] Award: ''Witco Award in Polymer Chemistry'' (1969); ''Award of the Division of Polymer Chemistry'' (1990)<ref name="suny" />
*[[Kyoto Prize]](1991)<ref name="Inamori">{{cite web|url=http://www.inamori-f.or.jp/laureates/k07_a_michael/prf_e.html|title=Michael Szwarc|year=2005|publisher=Inamori Foundation}}</ref>
*[[Kyoto Prize]](1991)<ref name="Inamori">{{cite web|url=http://www.inamori-f.or.jp/laureates/k07_a_michael/prf_e.html|title=Michael Szwarc|year=2005|publisher=Inamori Foundation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703070948/http://www.inamori-f.or.jp/laureates/k07_a_michael/prf_e.html|archive-date=2007-07-03}}</ref>
*International Award of the Plastics Engineers (1972)<ref name="Inamori" />
*International Award of the Plastics Engineers (1972)<ref name="Inamori" />
*Gold Medal of [[Benjamin Franklin]]'s Association (1978)<ref name="Penczek" />
*Gold Medal of [[Benjamin Franklin]]'s Association (1978)<ref name="Penczek" />
*Full member of [[Polish Academy of Sciences]] (1988)<ref name="Penczek" />
*Foreign member of [[Polish Academy of Sciences]] (1988)<ref name="Penczek" />
*''honoris causa''' of: Leuven University (1974), Uppsala University, [[Pasteur Institute]] (1978), [[Jagiellonian University]] (2000)<ref name="Penczek" />
*''honoris causa''' of: Leuven University (1974), Uppsala University, [[Pasteur Institute]] (1978), [[Jagiellonian University]] (2000)<ref name="Penczek" />


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />
{{FRS 1966}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Szwarc, Michael
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = British chemist
| DATE OF BIRTH = 9 June 1909
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 4 August 2000
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Szwarc, Michael}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Szwarc, Michael}}
[[Category:Polymer scientists and engineers]]
[[Category:Polymer scientists and engineers]]
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[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:British physical chemists]]
[[Category:British physical chemists]]
[[Category:British Jews]]
[[Category:Jewish chemists]]
[[Category:Jewish scientists]]
[[Category:British organic chemists]]
[[Category:Organic chemists]]
[[Category:Howard N. Potts Medal recipients]]
[[Category:Howard N. Potts Medal recipients]]
[[Category:Kyoto laureates in Advanced Technology]]
[[Category:Jewish British scientists]]

Latest revision as of 17:59, 14 April 2024

Michael Szwarc (9 June 1909, Będzin, Poland – 4 August 2000, San Diego, California)[1] was a British and American polymer chemist who discovered and studied ionic living polymerization.

Biography

[edit]

Michael Mojżesz Szwarc was born into a Polish-Jewish family in Będzin, Poland. In 1932 he received the title of engineer in chemistry at the Warsaw University of Technology. In 1935 he emigrated to Palestine, where he joined his sister and cousin. In 1942 he defended his first Ph.D. dissertation in organic chemistry at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.[2]

In 1945 he joined Michael Polanyi's research group at the University of Manchester in the UK. In 1947 he defended his second Ph.D. thesis, this time in physical chemistry. Two years later, he was awarded D.Sc. for work on measurements of energy distribution of chemical bonds, and was promoted to senior lecturer at the University of Manchester.[2]

In 1952 Michael Szwarc moved to the United States and was a professor of physical chemistry and polymers at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse.[3] He created his own research team at SUNY, developing living polymerization techniques in accordance with his long-term program published in Nature in 1956, in which he introduced the living polymerization term for the first time.[4] In 1964 he received a Distinguished Professor at SUNY, and in 1967 he founded the Center for Research Polymers, which he led until his retirement in 1979.[3]

At SUNY he was a consultant for scientific projects conducted by Union Carbide, Dow Corning, Dow Chemical and 3M. After retirement he moved to Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute at USC, where he continued his scientific work, in collaboration with former students from SUNY. He focused on solving practical problems associated with the living polymerization techniques in the industry. He also wrote several books and monographs about polymer chemistry synthesis.[2]

Michael Szwarc and his Polish wife, Marysia (Maria), had three children - a son and two daughters. He played piano and was a long-distance open water swimmer.[2]

Awards and memberships

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Michael Szwarc". Center for Oral History. Science History Institute. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Jagur-Grodzinski, J.; Penczek, S. (2006). "Michael Szwarc. 19 June 1909 -- 4 August 2000: Elected FRS 1966". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 52: 365. doi:10.1098/rsbm.2006.0025.
  3. ^ a b c WT Winter (4 August 2000). "Michael Szwarc-biography". SUNY-ESF, Department of Chemistry.
  4. ^ Szwarc, M. (1956). "'Living' Polymers". Nature. 178 (4543): 1168–1169. Bibcode:1956Natur.178.1168S. doi:10.1038/1781168a0. S2CID 4266406.
  5. ^ a b "Michael Szwarc". Inamori Foundation. 2005. Archived from the original on 2007-07-03.
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