Friday, July 24, 2009

Happy 96th Birthday to a Pioneering Biochemist

Last year I had the pleasure of interviewing (by phone) the groundbreaking biochemist, Mildred Cohn, who lives in an apartment in Philadelphia. The reason was to gather information for an article I wrote about physics in Philadelphia. I had just found out that Cohn's late husband was the well-known American physicist Henry Primakoff. She was gracious in answering my questions about her husband's career. Only later did I find out that Mildred Cohn is a pioneering scientist in her own right, an expert in enzymes who had worked with nuclear chemist Harold Urey. Throughout her career, she has helped young women chemists get their start. She continues to contribute to the history of chemistry through her recollections archived by the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Cohn turned 96 on July 12. Happy 96th Birthday to a pioneering scientist!

Here is a link to more information about her work:
Mildred Cohn Biography