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National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Robert Scott

Chemist, Research AssistantChicago, IL

Manhattan Project VeteranProject Worker/StaffScientist
Sketch of Chicago Pile-1 by Melvin A. Miller

Robert Scott was an American chemist. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Miami-Ohio. In 1942 Scott was recruited for the Manhattan Project while pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Chicago.

During the project, Scott worked on a team studying the effects of radiation on different materials at the Metallurgical Laboratory. While at the Met Lab, he was exposed to excessive radiation from the university’s cyclotron and had to take a two week break from project work.

After the war, Scott completed a Ph.D. in chemistry. Throughout his career, he advocated for nuclear arms control.

Scott reflects on the Manhattan Project and nuclear weapons in this Project for Nuclear Awareness video.

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