Mary Lowe Good
Personal Information
Born: 1931
Died: 2019
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
University of Central Arkansas BS Chemistry 1950; University of Arkansas MS Inorganic Chemistry 1953 & PhD Radiochemistry 1955
""You’ve got to take the opportunities as they appear." (sciencehistory.org); "
— Mary Lowe Good
Professional Life
Field of Study: Inorganic Chemistry
Institution/Corporation: Louisiana State University; University of New Orleans; Allied Signal Inc; University of Arkansas at Little Rock; ASTRA;
Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degrees: holds 21 including College of William & Mary; Polytechnic University of NY; Louisiana State University; Michigan State University; UCA (2007); Member: International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC); American Chemical Society; Board of Directors Industrial Research Institute (1982-87); Beta Phi chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma at the South Dakota School of Mines (1976); Fund for Arkansas, LLC and Stage 1 Diagnostics; boards of Delta Trust & Bank and St. Vincent Infirmary, Biogen Idec, IDEXX Laboratories, Cincinnati Milacron, Ameritech, Acxiom Corporation; American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, 1986); National Academy of Engineering (1987); Royal Society of Chemistry (1994); American Academy of Arts & Sciences (1999); American Philosophical Society (2000); Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (1994); American Institute of Chemists;
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 1973 Garvan–Olin Medal; 1998 Othmer Gold Medal; 1997 Priestley Medal; 2004 Vannevar Bush Award, National Science Foundation; 2000 Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy, and Employment; 1991 Industrial Research Institute Medal; 1969 Agnes Fay Morgan Research Award; 1982 Scientist of the Year, Industrial research& Development Magazine; 1983 American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal; 1988 The Delmer S. Fahrney Medal of the Franklin Institute; 1991 Charley Lathrop Parsons Award for Public Service, American Chemical Society; 1996 Glenn T. Seaborg Medal, UCLA; 1998 Philip Hauge Abelson Prize; 2002 Alpha Chi Sigma Hall of Fame; 2015 Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame; 1990 Distinguished Alumni Award, UCA; 1973 Distinguished Alumnae Citation, University of Arkansas; 1974 American Institute of Chemists Honor Scroll, Louisiana Chapter; 1974 Herty Medal, American Chemical Society Georgia Section; 1979 Florida Award, American Chemical Society; 1990 NJ Women of Achievement Award, douglas College at Rutgers University; 1991 AMS International Distinguished Life Membership Award, The Materials Information Society; 1991 American Association of State Colleges & Universities Distinguished Alumnus Award; 1992 AAAS Award; 1992 Distinguished Public Service Award, NSF; 1992 Albert Fox Demers Medal Award, Rensselear Polytechni Institute; 1993 Ralph Coates Roe Medal, American Society of Mechanical Engineers; 1996 Earle B. Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemistry Research Management, Dow Chemical Company; 1996 Federation of Materials Societies National Materials Advancement Award; 1999 1999 Philip Abelson Award, AAAS; 2012 STEM Leadership Hall of Fame, US News; 2006 LSU College of Science Hall of Distinction
Achievements: pioneered an experimental technique called Mössbauer spectroscopy, which uses gamma rays to figure out the molecular structure of complicated compounds containing metal ions; contributed to the understanding of catalysts such as ruthenium which activate or speed up chemical reactions; worked on processes of solvent extraction of metal complexes and described the chemical and physical properties of chemical species in an organic solvent; was able to explain why solutions of radioactive iodine were unstable, and determine the concentration at which species would be at equilibrium values, by applying the Nernst equation effect; did work in materials science on the physical and biological investigations of marine antifouling coatings, used to remove barnacles from ships; work included supervising a complete revision of the IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic chemistry or "Red Book;" was the founding Chairman of ASTRA, the Alliance for Science & Technology Research in America, beginning in 2000; authored more than 100 research papers in solvent separations and characterization of metallic species, solid-state chemistry and electron exchange, and testing methods for tin antifouling coatings; was the first to observe Mössbauer effects in ruthenium and its various oxidation states, contributing to the understanding of this important catalyst by deriving detailed chemical and structural information;
served as the Under Secretary for Technology in the United States Department of Commerce from 1993 to 1997 under President Bill Clinton
briefly served as Acting United States Secretary of Commerce from April 3, 1996, to April 12, 1996
no chemistry course or lab was offered at her high school, so she would spend her time as a young student creating her own labs
once produced a homemade photography studio in the cellar of her home after fixing up an old enlarger and reading up on the chemicals needed for photo developing
initially attended Arkansas State Teacher's College (now the University of Central Arkansas) with the intention of being a home economics teacher
received her first Q-level government clearance at age 19
her graduate work involved studying radioactive iodine in aqueous solutions (used for treating thyroid conditions)
spent 25 years in teaching and research at Louisiana State University and the University of New Orleans
was the first woman to be elected to the board of the American Chemical Society in 1972
was the first woman to be elected a division head of IUPAC
1989 was instrumental in introducing the "Chemistry in Action" program, encouraging IUPAC members to become active and visible leaders in areas of scientific and social importance, including the atmosphere and the environment, energy processes, advanced materials, and bio-technology
1980 was approached to become head of the Engineered Materials Research division at Signal Research Center, Inc. (previously Universal Oil Products, later Allied-Signal Inc.)
1981 was chosen as vice-president and director of research at Allied Signal
became president and director of research for Signal Research Center in 1985, and president of Allied-Signal Engineered Materials Research in 1986
held government positions under the administrations of four presidents: Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton
1988 to 1991 was the first woman to chair the National Science Board of the National Science Foundation
while Undersecretary led the Clean Car Initiative to develop a hybrid gas-electric car
was the founding dean of the George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology (EIT) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
1988 to 1993 was president of Zonta International Foundation, an organization supporting the involvement of women in business and science, and the improvement internationally of their legal, political, economic, educational and health status
delivered the very first Ullyot Public Affairs Lecture in 1990 at the Chemical Heritage Foundation, now the Science History Institute, giving a talk titled “Chemically Based Technology for 2010”
described her mother as the smartest person she ever knew
was the oldest of 4 siblings
as a child enjoyed accompanying her father on fishing and hunting outings
privately funded college tuitions for local students who were talented but lacked resources, providing an educational launchpad for many
encouraged debate, but when she stood up and paced the room with her hands in her pockets, the debate was over
donated her papers to the UA Little Rock Center for History and Culture
held 4 patents