Odorich "Rick" von Susani

Austrian Fulbright student
Tandon School of Engineering
STEM
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I must say that my Fulbright scholarship was a most decisive factor for my further professional life. ... And I am glad to see that more than half a century later, Fulbright Austria continues stronger than ever!

As an Austrian Fulbright student in 1964–65, I studied polymeric materials at New York University’s Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (today Tandon School of Engineering). Prof. Herman Mark, who had immigrated from Vienna to the USA und who is known as the father of polymer chemistry, was decisive for my choice.

In 2020, the Tandon School of Engineering asked me to write a story about my recollections concerning Prof. Mark. The reason was that a planned event to celebrate his 125th birthday had to be canceled because of the COVID-19 epidemic. I was selected because I had been one of the last students of Prof. Mark before his retirement. Everything had to be done quickly; within a week, the story was ready and included a link to a previous article that the Tandon School of Engineering had written about me when I was honored with a golden doctorate from my other alma mater, TU Graz.

My reflections on Herman Mark describe, in fact, how I became a polymer chemist. There was a lot of planning but also a lot of luck involved.

And in retrospect, I must say that my Fulbright scholarship was a most decisive factor for my further professional life. When I retired from DuPont in Geneva in 1999 after 31 years of service, I had worked on 17 different projects in research, development, marketing, and finance. I never could have accomplished all of this without the experience gained through my studies in New York, which were made possible by the Austrian Fulbright Student Program.

And I am glad to see that more than half a century later, Fulbright Austria continues stronger than ever!

Photo of plaque commemorating Herman Mark and the Polymer Research InstitutePlaque commemorating Herman Mark and the Polymer Research Institute
Photo of trousersTrousers honoring Herman Mark (see story)
Photo of Rick von Susani at TU GrazRick (center) in 2018 receiving honorary lifetime membership in TU Graz's alum association

Photos courtesy of Odorich von Susani