Saruhashi, Katsuko (1920–)
Saruhashi, Katsuko (1920–)
Japanese geologist and chemist. Born Mar 22, 1920, in Tokyo, Japan; graduate of Toho University, 1943; University of Tokyo, ScD, 1957, 1st female to earn a doctorate in chemistry there.
While at University of Tokyo, designed techniques to measure carbon dioxide concentration levels in seawater (c. 1950); upon request of Japanese government, directed research of widespread affects of nuclear bomb testing (1954), discovering that fallout from US bomb test site, Bikini Island, had spread to Japan's seawater 18 months after test; her research helped persuade US and Soviet Union to stop above-ground nuclear testing (1963); discovered that seawater in Pacific releases twice as much carbon dioxide as it absorbs, negating hypothesis that seawater carbon dioxide absorption would stop global warming; served as director of Geochemical Research Laboratory (1979–80) and as executive director of Tokyo-based Geochemistry Research Association (1990–98); was the 1st woman elected to Science Council of Japan (1980). Received Miyake Prize for geochemistry (1985) and Society of Sea Water Sciences' Tanaka Prize (1993).