Nobelist MacDiarmid was UW-Madison graduate

Nobel laureate chemist Alan G. MacDiarmid, who died Wednesday at the age of 79, was a two-degree graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and was slated to receive an honorary degree from UW–Madison at the spring 2007 commencement.

MacDiarmid died Wednesday after a fall at his home near Philadelphia. MacDiarmid received his master of science degree from UW–Madison in 1952 and his doctorate in inorganic chemistry from Wisconsin in 1953. He was awarded the 2000 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his discovery of plastics capable of conducting electricity.

His work helps underpin such technologies as anti-static film, shields that protect computer screens from electromagnetic radiation and, more recently, the development of semi-conductive polymers used in the bright displays of cell phones, light-emitting diodes and solar cells.

MacDiarmid was selected to receive an honorary degree from UW–Madison in 2006, but was unable to attend commencement that year for health reasons. He planned to attend spring commencement at UW–Madison. The degree will be conferred posthumously at the May commencement proceedings.