Michael Szwarc facts for kids

Michael Szwarc was a brilliant chemist who lived from 1909 to 2000. He was born in Poland and later became a citizen of both Britain and America. He is famous for discovering and studying something called "living polymerization." This was a very important discovery in the world of plastics and other materials.

About Michael Szwarc

Michael Szwarc was born in Będzin, Poland. He earned his first degree in chemistry in 1932 from the Warsaw University of Technology. In 1935, he moved to Palestine to be with his family. He earned his first Ph.D. in chemistry in 1942 from Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

In 1945, Michael Szwarc moved to the UK. He joined a research group at the University of Manchester. He earned a second Ph.D. in 1947. Two years later, he received another special degree for his work. He became a senior lecturer at the University of Manchester.

In 1952, Michael Szwarc moved to the United States. He became a professor at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. There, he started his own research team. He worked on improving "living polymerization" techniques. He even used the term "living polymerization" for the first time in a famous science magazine called Nature in 1956.

In 1964, he was named a "Distinguished Professor." In 1967, he started the Center for Research Polymers. He led this center until he retired in 1979. After retiring, he continued his scientific work at the USC. He worked with his former students. He focused on solving real-world problems using his living polymerization techniques. He also wrote several books about polymer chemistry.

Michael Szwarc and his wife, Marysia, had three children. He enjoyed playing the piano. He was also a long-distance open water swimmer.

Awards and Honors

Michael Szwarc received many important awards for his work. He was also a member of several respected groups.

• Member of The Royal Society (1966)
• Foreign member of the Nobel Prize Committee (1968–1972)
• Awards from the American Chemical Society:
  • Witco Award in Polymer Chemistry (1969)
  • Award of the Division of Polymer Chemistry (1990)
• Kyoto Prize (1991)
• International Award of the Plastics Engineers (1972)
• Gold Medal of Benjamin Franklin's Association (1978)
• Foreign member of Polish Academy of Sciences (1988)
• Honorary degrees from:
  • Leuven University (1974)
  • Uppsala University
  • Pasteur Institute (1978)
  • Jagiellonian University (2000)