Darleane C. Hoffman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Darleane C. Hoffman
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Darleane Christian
November 8, 1926 Terril, Iowa, U.S.
|
| Alma mater | Iowa State University |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Nuclear chemistry |
| Institutions | Los Alamos National Laboratory University of California, Berkeley |
Darleane Christian Hoffman (born November 8, 1926) is a famous American nuclear chemist. She was part of the team that confirmed the existence of seaborgium, which is element 106.
She works as a senior scientist at the Nuclear Science Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She is also a professor at UC Berkeley. In 2002, Discover magazine named her one of the 50 most important women in science. This was to celebrate her many achievements.
Early Life and Education
Darleane Christian was born at home on November 8, 1926. This was in a small town called Terril, Iowa. Her father, Carl B. Christian, was a math teacher and school superintendent. Her mother, Elverna Clute Christian, wrote and directed plays.
When she started college at Iowa State College (now Iowa State University), she took a chemistry class. It was taught by Nellie May Naylor. This class made her decide to study chemistry more deeply. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1948. She then got her Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry in 1951 from Iowa State University.
Career in Science
Darleane C. Hoffman worked as a chemist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for one year. Then, she joined her husband at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. She started there as a staff member in 1953. At first, she faced a challenge getting into the lab. Some people did not believe a woman could be a chemist.
In 1979, she became the leader of the Chemistry and Nuclear Chemistry Division. She left Los Alamos in 1984. She then became a professor at UC Berkeley. She also became the leader of the Heavy Element Nuclear & Radiochemistry Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
In 1991, she helped create the Seaborg Institute for Transactinium Science. This was at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. She was its first director until 1996. After that, she became a Senior Advisor and Charter Director.
Throughout her career, Hoffman studied special elements. These are called transuranium elements. She looked at their chemical and nuclear properties. She also helped confirm that seaborgium really existed.
Personal Life
After finishing her Ph.D., Darleane Christian married Marvin M. Hoffman. He was a physicist. The Hoffmans had two children. Their names are Maureane Hoffman and Daryl Hoffman. Both of their children became doctors. They were born in Los Alamos.
Awards and Recognitions
Darleane C. Hoffman has received many important awards for her work:
- 2023 – Enrico Fermi Presidential Award
- 2014 – Los Alamos Medal
- 2000 – Priestley Medal. She was only the second woman to win this award.
- 1997 – National Medal of Science
- 1990 – Garvan-Olin Medal
- 1986 – Fellow of the American Physical Society
- 1983 – ACS Award for Nuclear Chemistry. She was the first woman to win this award.
- 1978 – Guggenheim Fellowship
She is also a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
See also
In Spanish: Darleane C. Hoffman para niños
