Donald J. Metz

Donald J. Metz
Born	(1924-05-18)May 18, 1924 Brooklyn, New York
Died	May 9, 1999(1999-05-09) (aged 74) East Patchogue, Long Island
Alma mater	St. Francis College (B.S.) Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (Ph.D.)
Known for	Effect of radiation on polymers.
Scientific career
Fields	Nuclear Engineering
Institutions	Brookhaven National Laboratory

Donald J. Metz (May 18, 1924 – May 9, 1999) was an American nuclear engineer at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Metz's research focused on the effects of radiation on polymerization.^[1]

Early life and education

Metz began his undergraduate education at St. Francis College in 1941, yet it was interrupted by World War II. For three years he was in the infantry in Europe, yet upon his return he once again enrolled in St. Francis College and completed his B.S. in chemistry in 1947.^[2] Metz went on to conduct graduate work at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and was granted an M.S. in 1949, and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1955.^[2]

Career

Brookhaven National Laboratory

In 1954, Metz joined the staff at Brookhaven National Laboratory in the nuclear engineering department. While there he was appointed supervisor of radiation research in the radiation division. By 1972, Metz headed the chemical sciences division in the department of applied sciences.^[3] To pursue his interest in science education Dr. Metz relinquished his position in 1985 to become the head of the Office of Educational Programs (OEP).^[3] In 1993, Metz retired after having expanded the OEP, oversaw the creation of a new Science Learning Center, and started at Brookhaven, what would become a nationwide educators program at D.O.E. laboratory's.^[1]

Metz also gave two laboratory-wide lectures while at BNL; the 70th Brookhaven Lecture on Radiation and Organic Liquids and the 169th Brookhaven Lecture on Energy Future: A Prime for Secondary School Teachers.^[4][5]

St. Francis College

From 1947 to 1976, Metz was a professor of chemistry and physics at St. Francis College.^[3] During his tenure, Metz was known to be a devoted professor, so although he worked full-time at Brookhaven National Laboratory, he would teach classes on Saturdays.^[6]

Philanthropy

A few years after Metz retired in 1993, Donald and Dorothy Metz donated $100,000 to establish a scholarship program for the disabled children of Brookhaven lab employees.^[1] Named the Gorman-Metz scholarship in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Metz's parents, the award was given for the first time in March 1997. The awardees have been chosen by the National Center for Disability Services, and the scholarship has been administered by Brookhaven's Diversity Office.^[7]

Awards

• 1985 Robert A. Leahy Memorial Outstanding Citizenship Award.^[3]

References

1. "Making Science Magic". The New York Times. 26 December 1999. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
2. "Bulletin Board, November 9, 1967" (PDF). Brookhaven National Laboratory. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
3. "Inside Info Bulletin Board, May 6, 1988" (PDF). Retrieved 18 August 2010.
4. "Brookhaven Lecture Archive: 1 - 100". Brookhaven National Laboratory. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
5. "Brookhaven Lecture Archive: 101 - 200". Brrookhaven National Laboratory. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
6. "Profile of a Terrier Vincent A. Kucich '73" (PDF). stfranciscollege.edu. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
7. "GORMAN-METZ SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ESTABLISHED AT BROOKHAVEN LAB". Brookhaven National Laboratory. Retrieved 18 August 2010.

External links

• Office of Educational Programs at BNL
• BNL Science Learning Center