Willard F. Libby

A Nobel Prize winning chemist, Willard F. Libby was born on December 17th, 1908, in Grand Valley, Colorado. Libby attended the University of California in 1927, and later earned his PhD in 1933. Libby rose rapidly in the ranks of academia, becoming an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Berkeley within ten years. Libby was set to continue his rise through academia with a move to Princeton when World War II interrupted. Moving to Columbia University in 1941, Libby contributed actively to the Manhattan Project, working there until 1945.

After World War II, Libby continued his esteemed academic career, going to work at the well known Enrico Fermi Institute. Libby also served on the Atomic Energy Commission, as well as the Board of the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Libby also worked in the private sector as the Director of the Douglas Aircraft Company. Libby is perhaps best known for his amazing work on radiocarbons, which can be used to accurately date the age of artifacts. Libby has served as a member of the editorial board of the publication Science since 1962. Willard F. Libby has been one of the most influential chemists and scientists in general to work in the United States.