Katsuko Saruhashi's Birthday

Environmental & Science Education
STEM
History of Science
Nature of Science
Edward Hessler

Today is the birthday of geochemist Katsuko Saruhashi, the first woman to receive a PhD in chemistry in Japan. She would have been 98.

She is most noted (and thanked) for her work on the dispersal of radioactive fallout from the nuclear testing program of the United States near the Marshall Islands. This research was used in banning atmospheric tests by the US and the Soviet Union. She also made early measurements of CO2 in seawater.

Dr. Saruhashi believed that scientists have a social responsibility. This led her to co-founded the Society of Japanese Women Scientists in 1958 which focused on nuclear disarmament and world peace.

This essay in Aljazeera provides a very nice summary of her life and contributions--all in bullet-points.

Google Doodle celebrates her life today. You may access the Doodle and four quotes from Dr. Saruhashi here.

Happy Birthday and thank you for your work.