Karel Wiesner | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Karel Wiesner

Karel Wiesner, chemist, educator (b at Prague, Czech 1919; d at Fredericton 28 Nov 1986). Wiesner studied chemical engineering in Prague, receiving his doctorate in 1945 for research in polarography at Bulovka Hospital.

Karel Wiesner

Karel Wiesner, chemist, educator (b at Prague, Czech 1919; d at Fredericton 28 Nov 1986). Wiesner studied chemical engineering in Prague, receiving his doctorate in 1945 for research in polarography at Bulovka Hospital. He studied in Switzerland before coming to UNB in 1948 where he developed Canada's leading school of natural products chemistry. His former students are found at most of the major chemistry schools in Canada. In 1957 he was elected a fellow of the RSC and in 1963 received the highest honour of the Chemical Institute of Canada. He authored more than 200 papers in organic chemistry, and made major contributions in the fields of alkaloids, terpenoids and steroids.