Jean'ne Shreeve facts for kids

Jean'ne Marie Shreeve, born in 1933, is an American chemist. She is famous for studying special chemicals called fluorine compounds and explosives. Since 2004, she has held a special teaching position named after her at the University of Idaho.

Early Life and Education

Jean'ne Shreeve was born in Deer Lodge, Montana in 1933. She was the second child of Mary-Frances and Charles W. Shreeve. Her name came from a popular song from 1928.

During her childhood, her mother, Mary-Frances, was a teacher but often didn't have a job because of the Great Depression. At that time, many people believed only one parent needed to work. Mary-Frances later taught in public schools for 40 years. Jean'ne was very close to her older brother, William.

School and College Years

Jean'ne went to public schools in Montana. She graduated from Thompson Falls High School. Then, she received a full scholarship to the University of Montana, which was called Montana State University back then.

While at college, she worked in the university's library and in the chemistry department. She also played sports, was in the band, and joined a sorority. In 1953, Jean'ne graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemistry.

After college, she taught math for a year at Missoula County High School. She then continued her studies. In 1956, she earned her master's degree in analytical chemistry from the University of Minnesota. In 1961, she received her Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Washington. At the University of Washington, she worked with a chemist named George Cady, who studied fluorine. This sparked her interest in that field.

Career and Research

After finishing her Ph.D. in 1961, Dr. Shreeve started working as an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Idaho. She stayed there for her entire career. Sometimes, she was a visiting professor at other places, like the University of Cambridge. The National Science Foundation helped fund her time at Cambridge.

She became a full professor at the University of Idaho in 1967. In 1973, she became the head of the chemistry department. Later, in 1987, she became a vice president at the university.

Mentors and Collaborations

Early in her career at Idaho, Malcolm Renfrew helped guide her. He mentored her as she set up her lab and started publishing her research. While at Cambridge, she learned from Harry Julius Emeléus, a famous organic chemist. He remained her friend and mentor for the rest of his life.

After winning the Humboldt Senior Scientist Award, she spent a year in Europe. She gave lectures and worked at the University of Bristol and the University of Göttingen. There, she worked with Oskar Glemser.

Contributions to Chemistry

Dr. Shreeve has spent much of her career supporting women chemists. She also championed research into fluorine chemistry. She served on many committees for groups like the American Chemical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

She is also known for her excellent teaching and for guiding about 130 researchers who were just starting their careers. Throughout her career, Dr. Shreeve has published 663 scientific papers. She also earned one patent.

She is famous for working with very powerful compounds that contain nitrogen and fluorine. She also created many different chemicals used as oxidizers in rocket propellants. These are important for making rockets fly.

Dr. Shreeve's work includes new ways to create chlorodifluoroamine and dinitrogen difluoride. Before her work, it was hard to make enough of these chemicals to use them as rocket propellant oxidizers. She is also recognized for making fluorinated alkyl sulfoxides.

Honors and Awards

• National Science Foundation Fellow (1967-1968)
• Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Montana (1970)
• Alfred P. Sloan Fellow (1970-1972)
• Garvan-Olin Medal, American Chemical Society (1972)
• Honorable Alumna, University of Idaho (1972)
• National Director, Iota Sigma Pi (1972-1975)
• Senior U.S. Scientist Award, Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation (1978)
• Award for Creative Work in Fluorine Chemistry, American Chemical Society (1978)
• President, Idaho Academy of Science (1978-1979)
• College Chemistry Teaching Award, Manufacturing Chemists Association (1979)
• Fellow, AAAS (1980)
• Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Montana (1982)
• Board of Directors, American Chemical Society (1985-1991)
• Chair of Chemistry Section, AAAS (1989)
• Board of Directors, AAAS (1991-1995)
• Harry and Carol Mosher Award, Santa Clara Valley Section, American Chemical Society
• Idaho Hall of Fame (2001)
• Member, Royal Society of Chemistry

Editorships

Jean'ne Shreeve also helped edit several important scientific journals:

• Journal of Fluorine Chemistry (1970 - )
• Accounts of Chemical Research (1973-1975)
• Inorganic Synthesis (1976 - )
• Heteroatom Chemistry (1988 - )