Donald Cotton
1939
Physical and Nuclear
Chemistry
Donald Cotton, the
technical lead for nuclear chemistry research and development at the Department
of Energy, plans, manages and evaluates research and development on reactor
materials and chemistry carried out in DOE national laboratories. He
identifies the breeder reactor needs of less-developed nations, an assignment
which has taken him to several European states.
Dr. Cotton first
worked as a physical chemist at the Naval Propellant Plant at Indian Head,
Maryland. From there he moved to the Marine Engineering Laboratory in
Annapolis where he worked on the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels and invented a
microwave absorption technique for measuring solid propellant burning
rates. Later he researched liquid state chemistry and liquid gas
propellants.
His career extended
beyond the laboratory. For 2 years Cotton was science editor for
Libratterian Books, presenting scientific and technical subjects to lay readers.
Cotton's degrees in
physical chemistry include an M.S. from Yale University and a Ph.D. from
Howard. He has lectured at Universities in Africa and South America, has
patents to his credit, and has written many scientific papers.