Kathleen C. Taylor facts for kids

Kathleen C. Taylor, born in 1942, is a brilliant chemist. She is famous for her work on catalytic converters. These devices help make cars much cleaner. In 1989, she won the important Garvan–Olin Medal for her achievements.

Kathleen Taylor's Education

Kathleen Taylor went to Douglass College at Rutgers University. She earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1964. Later, she continued her studies at Northwestern University. In 1968, she received her Ph.D. in physical chemistry. Her research focused on how catalysts work on surfaces.

After her Ph.D., she did more research at the University of Edinburgh. There, she studied how to use a special type of hydrogen, called deuterium. This helped her track chemical reactions on catalysts.

Her Career at General Motors

In 1970, Kathleen Taylor joined General Motors, a big car company. She became well-known for her work on catalytic converters. These devices are super important for reducing pollution from car exhaust. Her work built upon earlier efforts by Eugene Houdry.

Taylor developed catalytic converters that changed harmful nitric oxide. Instead of turning it into ammonia, which is toxic, her converters turned it into harmless nitrogen. This was a huge step for cleaner air. While working at General Motors, she also led the Materials Research Society in 1987.

In 1995, Taylor was chosen as a fellow of the National Academy of Engineering. This honor recognized her for creating car exhaust systems. It also praised her leadership in research on batteries and fuel cells.

Making a Difference

In a 2014 interview, Taylor talked about her engineering career. She chose this field because she loved the challenges it offered. She also knew it would provide many job opportunities. As of 2017, she had retired from General Motors. However, she still worked as a consultant. She advised Columbia University and the United States Department of Energy. Her work continued to focus on projects that help protect our environment.

Awards and Honors

Kathleen Taylor has received many important awards for her work:

• 1988 – Garvan Award from the American Chemical Society
• 1994 – Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
• 1995 – Member, National Academy of Engineering
• 1997 – Fellow, Society of Automotive Engineers
• 2003 – Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• 2006 – Member, Indian National Academy of Engineering

Her Personal Life

Outside of her science work, Kathleen Taylor is also an artist. She enjoys painting with watercolors. Her paintings often show beautiful scenes from Florida and Massachusetts.