Dr. Lawrence “Larry” Nielsen was born on an Oregon ranch in 1917. He obtained his B.S. from Pacific University in 1940 and his M.S. from the State College of Washington in 1942.
His doctoral research was carried out with J. G. Kirkwood and focused on fractionation of proteins using electrophoresis. After receiving his PhD in Physical Chemistry from
Cornell University in 1945, Nielsen accepted a position at The Monsanto Company. He began his career in Springfield, Massachusetts, and he was promoted to a senior scientist
position in 1955. He then moved to a facility in St. Louis, Missouri in 1963 where he worked until his retirement in 1977. During his time at Monsanto, Nielsen performed research
in polymer rheology, served as an internal consultant, and assisted with a federally funded research collaboration between Monsanto and Washington University that explored polymer
composites as advanced materials. Additionally, Nielsen served as affiliate professor at Washington University in St. Louis from 1965 to 1976.
Nielsen researched the relationship between the mechanical properties of high polymers and composite materials to their molecular and colloidal structure. Some of these experiments
made use of an exquisitely-sensitive homemade torsion pendulum which enabled dynamical mechanical measurements of elastomers and composite materials over a range of frequencies and
temperatures. Later in life, Nielsen combined his rheological studies with his love of the outdoors by analyzing the flow properties of glaciers. As a member of nineteen climbing
and glacier-research expeditions to Alaska and Yukon, he accomplished such feats as leading the first expedition to retrace the Gold-Rush route of 1898 and being the first to ascend
several major mountain peaks in Alaska.
After retiring to Redmond, Oregon, Nielsen and his wife Deanna traced many trails made by early pioneers. They wrote several books based on this experience, including In the Ruts of
the Wagon Wheels: Pioneer Roads in Eastern Oregon and Roads of Yesterday in Northeastern Oregon. These works added to Nielsen’s already impressive list of writings which includes
technical books, approximately one hundred and fifty publications, and six patents.
Nielsen was a fellow of the American Physical Society and member of the American Chemical Society, the Fine Particle Society, and the Society of Rheology. He was awarded the Bingham Medal in 1976
for his many contributions to rheology through “the study of polymeric systems ranging from melts through dispersions, crystalline polymers, glasses, powders, and reinforced composites … and his
important role in instrument development.” (Rheology Bulletin)
Sources
Cox, W. P.; Ehrlich, P. Lawrence E. Nielsen.
Physics Today 45, 12, 108 (1992) (accessed Jun 20, 2019).
Lawrence E. Nielsen, 1917-1992.
The American Alpine Club (accessed Jun 20, 2019).
Outstanding Alumni Service Award: Dr. Lawrence E. Nielsen ’40.
Pacific University Oregon (accessed Jun 20, 2019).
Rheology Bulletin, 1976, 45(3).
Also, Box 6, Folder 26. Niels Bohr Library & Archives, American Institute of Physics. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740
Lawrence E Nielsen; Deanne M Nielsen; Donald S Galbreath; Linda Hickel. Roads of Yesterday in Northeastern Oregon. WorldCat.
Photo Credit
AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives.