Richard Allen Nyquist

Background

Richard Nyquist was born on the 3rd of May, 1928 in Rockford, Illinois, United States, the son of the late Harry William and Anna Svea (Nelson) Nyquist.

Education

Richard Allen Nyquist received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Augustana College, Rock Island in 1951. Two years later he earned a Master of Science degree from Oklahoma State University. In 1994 he obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Utrecht.

Career

Richard Allen Nyquist began his career at Dow Chemical Company where he served as a research scientist in vibrational spectroscopy from 1953 to 1994. In 1995 he was appointed President of Nyquist Associates. In 2000 he served as an Adjunct Professor at Michigan Molecular Institute (now Michigan State University St. Andrews).

Nyquist is the author or co-author of more than 160 scientific articles including books, book chapters, and patents. With R. O. Kagel he wrote “Infrared Spectra of Inorganic Compounds: 3800-45 cm-1” in 1971, with C. L. Putzig and M. Anne Leugers “Infrared and/or Raman Spectra of Inorganic Compounds and Organic Salts” in 1996, with C. L. Putzig, M. Anne Leugers, and R. O. Kagel “The Electronic Handbook of Infrared and Raman Spectra of Inorganic Compounds and Organic Salts” in 1997. He was the editor of “The Infrared Spectra Atlas of Monomers and Polymers” that was published in 1980 and of “The Infrared Spectra Atlas of Surface Active Agents” in 1982.

Richard Nyquist wrote “The Interpretation of Vapor-Phase Infrared Spectra: Group Frequency Data” in 1984, “Correlations between IR and NMR Data: Carbonyl Stretching Frequencies vs. Carbonyl Carbon-13 Chemical Shifts” in 1986, “The Infrared Spectra Building Blocks of Polymers” in 1989, “Interpreting Infrared, Raman, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectra, Volume 1: Factors Affecting Molecular Vibrations, Volume 2: Factors Affecting Molecular Vibrations and Chemical Shifts” in 2000.

Achievements

• Richard Allen Nyquist received numerous awards and honors during his career, among them are V. A. Stenger Award, Williams-Wright Award, ANACHEM Award for Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, ASTM Award of Appreciation for his contributions to the Practice of Qualitative Infrared Analysis.
  
  Richard won two appreciation awards for forensic work from Michigan State Police in 1987 and from the American Society for Testing and Materials in 1989. He also received an Award for excellence in chemistry from the American Chemical Society Midland section in 1993.
  
  Nyquist was named an honorary member of the Coblentz Society for his contributions to vibrational spectroscopy. In 1989 he was a national speaker for the Society of Applied Spectroscopy and in 2000 Dr. Nyquist was awarded honorary membership in the Society of Applied Spectroscopy for his exceptional contributions to spectroscopy and to the society.
  
  In 1995 The Dow Chemical Company established the Nyquist Analytical Award for a candidate’s long-term contributions to analytical technology.
  
  

Works

More photos

• book

  • Handbook of Infrared and Raman Spectra of Inorganic Compounds and Organic Salts

    (This four-volume handbook presents unique data of infrare...)

    1997
  • Interpreting Infrared, Raman, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectra

    (This book teaches the analyst why it is advantageous to o...)

    2000
  • IR and NMR Spectral Data-structure Correlations for the Carbonyl Group 1986
  • The Infrared Spectra Atlas of Surface Active Agents 1982

Views

Nyquist's primary motivation for writing was to pass on the scientific information that he acquired over the years by the study of infrared and Raman spectroscopic data. These data are useful in solving chemical problems in today’s world.

Membership

Richard Allen Nyquist was a member of the American Chemical Society, RESA, and ASTM. Nyquist was also an honorary member of the Coblentz Society and of the Society of Applied Spectroscopy.

Interests

• Sports, gardening.

• Sport & Clubs

  Golf

Connections

Richard Allen Nyquist was married to Irene M. Cote. They had four children, Richard Harry, Jean Susan, Kathryn Ann, and Robert Allen.

Father:

Harry William Nyquist

Mother:

Anna Svea (Nelson) Nyquist

Wife:

Irene M. Cote Nyquist

Son:

Richard Harry Nyquist

Daughter:

Jean Susan Nyquist

Daughter:

Kathryn Ann Nyquist

Son:

Robert Allen Nyquist

Grandson:

Benjamin Allen Nyquist

granddaughter :

Hannah Dee Nyquist

Brother:

Roger Thomas Nyquist