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National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Paul R. O’Connor

Junior ChemistChicago, IL

Manhattan Project VeteranScientist

Paul R. O’Connor was a junior chemist at the University of Chicago Met Lab during the Manhattan Project. He worked on isolating plutonium isotopes. In 1945, he signed the Szilard petition.

After World War II, O’Connor earned his Ph.D. and was Professor of Chemistry for many years at the University of Minnesota. He helped revamp chemistry curricula in the 1960s as part of a national effort to promote national math and science education.

Paul R. O’Connor's Timeline
1921 Feb 3rd Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1945 Signed the Szilard petition.
19471973 Professor of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota.
2013 Mar Died in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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