Isabella Karle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isabella Karle
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Karle at her retirement in 2009
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| Born |
Isabella Helen Lugoski
December 2, 1921 |
| Died | October 3, 2017 (aged 95) Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
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| Resting place | Columbia Gardens Cemetery Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Garvan–Olin Medal (1976) Gregori Aminoff Prize (1988) Bower Award (1993) National Medal of Science (1995) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Crystallography |
| Doctoral advisor | Lawrence O. Brockway |
Isabella Karle (born December 2, 1921 – died October 3, 2017) was an American chemist. She played a very important role in developing ways to get plutonium chloride out of a mixture. This was a key part of her scientific work.
Isabella Karle received many top awards for her discoveries. These included the Garvan–Olin Medal, the Gregori Aminoff Prize, the Bower Award, and the National Medal of Science. She also received the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, which is the highest honor for a civilian working for the U.S. Navy.
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Early Life and Education
Isabella Helen Lugoski was born in Detroit, Michigan, on December 2, 1921. Her parents had moved to the U.S. from Poland. She went to public schools in her hometown.
A female chemistry teacher inspired her to pursue chemistry as a career. Isabella then attended the University of Michigan on a full scholarship. She studied physical chemistry and earned her first degree at just 19 years old. She continued her studies, earning both a master's and a Ph.D. in chemistry.
During her time in graduate school, she met her future husband, Jerome Karle. He also became a famous scientist. Both Isabella and Jerome had the same Ph.D. advisor, Lawrence Brockway.
Scientific Career and Discoveries
During World War II, Isabella Karle worked on the Manhattan Project. This was a secret project to develop the first atomic bomb. Her job was to figure out how to separate plutonium chloride from other materials.
After the war, she joined the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). At the NRL, her husband, Jerome, developed new ways to study the structure of crystals. These were called "direct methods." For a long time, other scientists were not sure if these methods would work.
Isabella Karle was the first person to successfully use these new methods. She created a special procedure that linked the theoretical ideas to real data from X-ray machines. Her work helped scientists understand the exact structure of crystals. This technique, called X-ray crystallography, became very important. It helped in creating new medicines and other materials.
In 1985, Jerome Karle won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He shared it with another mathematician, Herbert A. Hauptman. They won for developing the "direct methods" that Isabella had put into practice. Many scientists, including Jerome Karle himself, believed that Isabella Karle should have shared the Nobel Prize too.
Awards and Recognition
Isabella Karle received many honors for her amazing work.
- She was chosen as a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1978.
- She became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1993.
- In 1992, she was elected to the American Philosophical Society.
- She received the National Medal of Science in 1995. This is one of the highest science awards in the U.S.
- She also received eight honorary doctorates from different universities.
On July 31, 2009, Isabella Karle and her husband retired from the Naval Research Laboratory. They had worked there for a combined 127 years! The U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, honored them. He gave them the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award.
Personal Life and Family
Isabella Karle was married to Jerome Karle. They had three daughters together. All of their daughters followed in their parents' footsteps and became scientists:
- Louise Karle (born 1946) is a theoretical chemist.
- Jean Karle (born 1950) is an organic chemist.
- Madeleine Karle (born 1955) is a museum specialist who knows a lot about geology.
Death
_and_Isabella_Lugoski_Karle_(1921-2017).jpg)
Isabella Karle passed away on October 3, 2017. She was at a hospice in Alexandria, Virginia.
Major Awards Received
- Garvan–Olin Medal (1976)
- Rear Admiral William S. Parsons Award (1988)
- Gregori Aminoff Prize (1988)
- Bijvoet Medal of the Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research (1989)
- Bower Award (1993)
- National Medal of Science (1995)
- Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award (2009)
See also
In Spanish: Isabella Karle para niños
