Otto Vogl (November 6, 1927 – April 27, 2013) was an American chemist, polymer scientist, and educator.
Life and work
Otto Vogl was the Herman F. Mark Professor Emeritus of the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, and Professor Emeritus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is noted for his work on the polymerization of higher aldehydesO. Vogl, Polymerization of Higher Aldehydes. J. Polym. Sci., (1960), Vol. 46, pgs 261–264Otto Vogl, Addition Polymers of Aldehydes, J. Polymer Sci., Polym. Chem. Ed, (2000), Vol. 38(13), pgs. 2293–2299 and the importance of the ceiling temperature of polymerization,O. Vogl, H.C. Miller and W.H. Sharkey, Monomer-Cast Chloral Polymers, Macromolecules, (1972), Vol. 5, pgs. 658–679.Kubisa and O. Vogl, Chloral Polymers by Cryotachensic Polymerization, Macromol. Synth., (1977), Vol. 6, pgs. 49–56 His other contributions were in functional polymers,D. Tirrell, D. Bailey and O. Vogl, Polymers with Ultraviolet Absorbers as Functional Groups in POLYMERIC DRUGS, G. Donaruma and O. Vogl, Ed., (1978), pgs. 77–101 polymeric drugs,G. Donaruma and O. Vogl, Ed., POLYMERIC DRUGS, (1978)Otto Vogl and David Tirrell, Functional Polymers with Biologically Active Groups, J. Macromol.Sci., Chem., (1979), Vol. A13(3), pgs. 415–439 polymeric stabilizers,Bailey and O. Vogl, Polymeric Ultraviolet Absorbers, J. Macromol. Sci., Macromol.Reviews, (1976), Vol. C14(2), pgs. 267–293 macromolecular asymmetry,Otto Vogl, Polymer Optical Activity Based on Macromolecular Asymmetry, Preprints, Japan -U.S.Polymer Symposium, Kyoto, Japan, (1985), pgs..7–8.Otto Vogl, Haloaldehyde Polymers and Macromolecular Asymmetry, J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Chem.Ed, (2000), Vol. 38(15), pgs. 2623–2624. the single helix,L. S. Corley and O. Vogl, Haloaldehyde Polymers. XXI. Optically Active Polychloral, PolymerBulletin, (1980), Vol. 3, pgs. 211–217Otto Vogl, The Rigid Single Helix, Prog. Polym. Sci., (1994), Vol. 19(6), pgs. 1055–1065 chiralityThomas R. Doyle and Otto Vogl, Bromochlorofluoromethane and Deuterobromochlorofluoro-methane of High Optical Purity, J. Am. Chem. Soc., (1989), Vol. 111, p. 8510 and chiral crystallization,Otto Vogl, Meifang Qin, Jan Bartus and Gary D. Jaycox, Chiral Nucleation, Monatshefte Chem. (1995), Vol. 126, pgs. 67–73 and the chemistry of oriental lacquers.Otto Vogl, Oriental Lacquer, Poison Ivy and Drying Oils, J. Polymer Sci., Polym. Chem. Ed, (2000)Vol. 38(24), pgs. 4327–4335 Vogl was the chairman of the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry and the president of the Pacific Polymer Federation.Unknown He was a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. He was on the editorial board of many polymer related journals and was for years the editor-in-chief of Progress in Polymer Science, the international review journal.
Vogl was born in Traiskirchen, Austria, near Vienna. He attended the local elementary school and the Realgymnasium in Baden bei Wien. In 1945, Vogl began his studies in chemistry at the University of Vienna. His doctoral thesis, on steroids, was carried out under the guidance of Professor Friedrich Galinovsky. He obtained his PhD in April 1950.
In October 1948, Vogl was appointed an instructor at the II. Chemical Institute of the University of Vienna. He left for the United States in 1953. He spent three years as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Michigan (1953–1955) and Princeton University (1955–1956). He spent the years 1956-1970 at E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.
In 1970, Vogl was appointed professor in the new program of polymer science and engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. At the beginning of 1983, he accepted the newly created position of Herman F. Mark Chair of Polymer Science at Polytechnic University. In 1996 he retired, and returned to the University of Massachusetts.Otto Vogl, My Life with Polymer Science, J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Chem. Ed. Suppl. Ed, (2004) Vol. 42(3), pgs. 795–818 .
In addition to his scientific activities, Vogl was a dedicated philatelist. He had a considerable collection of stamps, mainly from Austria and Japan. His Austrian collection provided a link to his native country. The Austrian Philatelic Magazine Die BriefmarkeUnknown dedicated a voluminous article to Prof. Vogl in 2008.Thomas Rieger, From Traiskirchen to Massachusetts, Die Briefmarke, 12/2008, p. 40.. The City Museum Traiskirchen ordered a special edition of stamps from the Austrian post office with Vogl's picture on it; the edition was only produced in 200 pieces. Also, his strong interests in the artsProgress in Pacific Polymer Science, B.C. Anderson, Y. Imanishi (eds), Springer Verlag, Polymer Science and the Arts, pps. 393–413, Berlin, Heidelberg (1991)Christopher W. McGlinchy, Lining Adhesives Used in Painting Conservation, pps 415–423, see also M.S. thesis, Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, NY, 1991(he collaborated with the Metropolitan Museum in New York) may have helped to create the notion of a radiant uniqueness that turns persons into personalities.
Vogl died at home in Amherst, Massachusetts, on April 27, 2013, and was buried in Wildwood Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Jane C. Vogl, their son Eric Vogl of Houston, Texas, and their daughter Yvonne of New York, as well as by eight grandchildren, including Fariss Jane Marsh, one great-granddaughter, and one great grandson.
Otto Vogl was a pioneer in polymer science who contributed to its vitality. He also served as an ambassador for polymer science and made connections with other scientists, promoting an international exchange of ideas and approaches.
Publications
Otto Vogl published his extensive scientific research in a number of professional journals, among them the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the Journal of Polymer Science Part A, the Journal of Macromolecular Science and some science-related articles in Polymer News, the polymer science monthly. He was on many editorial boards and was for many years editor-in-chief of Progress in Polymer Science.
Honors and awards
Membership in academies of sciences Academy of Sciences, Austria New York Academy of Sciences Berlin-Brandenburgische Academy of Sciences, Berlin, Germany (1985–92) The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
Honorary doctoral degrees 1983 Dr. rer. nat., honoris causa, University of Jena, Germany 1992 Dr. honoris causa, Polytechnic Institute of Iasi, Romania 1996 Dr. honoris causa, Osaka University, Japan,Polymer News, Vol. 22, No. 4, p.138-139 2000 Golden Dr. Phil, University of Vienna 2001 Dr. Sc. honoris causa. Academy of Sciences, Slovak Republic 2005 Dr. mountain. Science, honoris causa, University of Leoben, Austria
Honorary memberships in societies 1993 Slovak Chemical Society, Bratislava, Slovak Republic, 1996 Society of Plastics and Rubber Engineers, Zagreb, Croatia 1999 Austrian Chemical Society, Vienna, Austria 2004 Society of Polymer Science, JapanKobunshi, Vol.53, No. 7, p. 522(2004)
Guest professorships 1971, 2000 Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, Department of Polymer Technology 1973 University of Freiburg, Germany, Institute of Macromolecular ChemistryUnknown 1982 Technical University Dresden, Germany, Department of Chemistry 1984 Wuhan University, Wuhan, China 1984 East China Normal University, Shanghai, China 1996 Monbusho Professor, Kyoto Institute of Technology
Awards Fulbright Fellowship (1976) Humboldt Prize, Germany (1977) Senior Scientist Fellowship, JSPS, Japan (1980) Chemical Pioneer Award, AIC (1985) Distinguished Service Award, ACS, Division of Polymer Chemistry (1985) ACS Award in Applied Polymer Chemistry (1990) Distinguished Award of the Society of Polymer Science, Japan (1991).Kobunshi, Vol. 41, No. 5, p.303(1992) H. Coanda Medal, I. Class, Society of Inventors, Romania (1993) Life Member, SPSJ, Japan (1993) Distinguished Service Award, Pacific Polymer Federation (1993) ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry, Mark Award (2000) Kulturpreis, City of Traiskirchen (2002)
Medals Honorary Cross for Arts and Sciences, Republic of Austria (2000) Gold Medal of the City of Vienna (1986) Medal of the City of Iasi, Romania (1972) Doebereiner Medal, University of Jena (1985) Medal of the University of Helsinki, Finland (1987). Wilhelm Exner Medal, Austrian Trade Association (1987).Editor, ÖGV. (2015). Wilhelm Exner Medal. Austrian Trade Association. ÖGV. Austria. Medal of Texas A&M University (1988); Mark Medal, Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Physics (1989) Golden Ring of Honor, City of Traiskirchen (1989) Honorary Medal, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Polymer Institute (2003) Medal, Slovak Chemical Society (2007) Citation, Austrian Industry (OMV) 2007 Plaque, ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry commemorating his 80th birthday and 40 years of service to the Division (2007) Honorary Medal for Chemistry in Austria (2008) Distinguished Honorary Alumni Award 2010UMass Amherst Alumni Association, Spring 2010, pg 50
Professional activities
Professional societies Early in his scientific career, Otto Vogl showed his interest and commitment to professional organizations. As a student he joined the Austrian Chemical Society on and attended his first national meeting later in the year in Linz, where he heard Giulio Natta as the plenary lecturer. He attended the first international meeting in 1950 in Graz.
In the US he joined the American Chemical Society (ACS) in 1954, attended his first national meeting (the 125th) there in Kansas City, and presented his first lecture, which was on alkaloids. For the rest of his career, he was committed to serve the ACS and its Division of Polymer Chemistry in various capacities. He was the chairman of the Polymer Division and the chairman of the Connecticut Valley Section in 1974.
He began as the treasurer of the Polymer Division of the Delaware Section in 1967 and became the chairman of the Awards Committee of the section the year later.
In 1985 Vogl obtained the Chemical Pioneer Award of the American Institute of Chemists (with Alan Hay)... and became thereafter the chairman of the Awards Committee. After two years he was asked to run for the presidency of AICh. He lost by a very narrow margin.
ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry In 1967, Chairman-Elect Jack ElliottUnknown of the ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry (POLY) invited him to attend the executive committeeUnknown meeting as a guest and Vogl was appointed as a member of the Program Committee. The next year the newly appointed chairman of the Membership Committee Jesse Hwa appointed him as the subcommittee chairman for International Membership. In this capacity Vogl increased the membership from 180 to 520.
When the position of the treasurer became available, the chairman Elliott appointed Vogl treasurer. He was later elected for a second term. Vogl reorganized the treasury and controlled spending and administration. During this period, the incorporation of the Polymer Division was also accomplished.
At Elliott's initiative and with the support of Jesse Hwa and Otto Vogl, they devised what is now known the grid system of administering the growing division. This group, which Vogl called the triumvirate, provided for 8 years much vision and leadership and transformed the informal working group in the early era of the division into a modern functioning organization. It was based on a close personal and working relationship among the three members.
In 1967, Vogl had proposed to Chairman-Elect Elliott to establish a carefully planned network of cooperation of POLY with (a) polymer interested Divisions of the ACS. (b) polymer organizations in the US, and (c) international organizations in the polymer field, wherein (a) led to the ACS Macromolecular Secretariat on Polymers and (c) led to the Pacific Polymer Federation, as well as to interactions with other polymer-related organizations in Europe.