A reconstruction of an eighteenth-century chemistry laboratory from the Pharmacy Museum in Basel, Switzerland

The benzene molecule as a Kekule "sausage" model, Museum of the History of Science, University of Ghent, Belgium

Statue of Dimitri Mendeleev in front of a periodic table at the Metrology Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia

Research Interests

Dr. Wismer's research interests include relating macroscopic properties to molecular interactions and developing laboratory experiments that use and produce commonly available non-hazardous materials. A final interest is obtaining images of historically important scientific apparatus and locations and making these available to historians of science.

About Dr. Robert K. Wismer

Dr. Wismer joined the Chemistry Department in August, 1976. His Ph.D. thesis research is in X-ray crystallography. Before coming to Millersville University, Dr. Wismer taught chemistry and computer science at Denison University, Luther College, Des Moines Area Community College, and Iowa State University. He also was a computer systems analyst at Ames Laboratory (USDOE). At Millersville, Dr. Wismer teaches introductory chemistry, physical chemistry, history of chemistry, and chemistry for non-science majors. He has been member and secretary of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Section of ACS, as well as member and chair of: the Undergraduate Course and Program Review Committee, the General Education Review Committee, and the Curriculum Committee of the School of Science and Mathematics. He was chair of the Department from 1983-1986, and its Faculty Senator for seventeen years. Dr. Wismer has published two or more editions of each of several texts in general chemistry: a study guide, a laboratory manual, a solutions manual, two instructor's guides, and a qualitative analysis textbook.

Professional Affiliations

• American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Division of the History of Chemistry
• Scientific Instrument Society