1961 Seaborg Award: Joseph J. Katz

Katz received his BS in chemistry from the College of the City of Detroit (now Wayne State University) and a PhD in 1942 from the University of Chicago.

During the Manhattan project, Katz was a part of a team that studied ways to make the diffusion of U-235 to U-238. Katz also was part of the team tasked with separating plutonium from irradiated uranium and the group who would be tasked with determining the critical mass for a sustained nuclear reaction.

Katz’s radiochemistry skills would be used throughout separations as evidenced in scientific technical reports declassified from the war effort. As well as several publications co-edited with Seaborg.

Katz would be more well known for his studies on the effects of “heavy water” on plant life and other plant physiological research endeavors.

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Interview: Voices of the Manhattan Project