Lasting Impact
As a result of the migration of European scientists to Poly, such as Herbert Morawetz and Herman Mark, Poly—and other institutions across the United States—not only gained notable individuals but also inherited their knowledge, expertise, and passion for science. As mentioned earlier in this project, this migration was one of the key reasons the United States was able to emerge as a global leader in STEM and develop its scientific community so extensively. By examining the demographics of scientists in the early 20th century, it is clear that most were of European descent, whereas after World War II, there was a significant shift away from Europe.
Looking more closely at Poly, the changes between the pre- and post-war periods are striking. Part of this transformation can be attributed to the U.S. government’s increased support for academic institutions following the war, through grants and sponsorships of projects, which stimulated innovation across the country and beyond. It is well known that many major technologies—such as the internet, GPS systems, and penicillin—originated from military needs. However, it can also be argued that some, if not most, of the positive change at Poly was directly linked to the arrival of scientists like Herman Mark.
Mark went on to establish the Polymer Research Institute (PRI) at Poly, driven by the rising global interest in polymers and as a continuation of the work he had begun in Europe. In 2003, the PRI was designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society. The establishment of the institute attracted many promising young scientists, among them Herbert Morawetz, who, as mentioned, later became Director of the same institute in 1971. The following excerpt from Herman Mark’s biography highlights Morawetz’s name.
Figure 14 – Polymer Science at Poly (“Biography (through retirement),” undated)
This also highlights Herman Mark’s influence in attracting scientific talent. His recognition within the scientific community had a snowball effect, drawing more scientists eager to work with him and contribute to advancing human knowledge. At the same time, this enhanced Poly’s reputation and credibility across the United States and beyond. Although the PRI is no longer active, research in this field, along with many others, continues to drive academic inquiry and engagement at Poly, or now NYU Tandon School of Engineering, long after the time of Herman Mark and Herbert Morawetz.
In terms of individual scientific contributions, take Herman Mark, for example. During the war, he worked on several military projects for the Allied powers, illustrating the irony often noted by historians that Adolf Hitler sowed the seeds of Germany’s defeat when he enacted the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service. In one of his biographical sketches, Mark mentions helping to research projects such as investigating ways to harden the ice of flattened icebergs to allow planes to land on them in Newfoundland, Canada, and Iceland. This would have enabled more goods to be delivered to the United Kingdom and Europe by air, as cargo ships were at high risk of being sunk by U-boats (“Biographical - Sketches,” 1985–2005). Drawing on his experience working at a pulp factory, Mark quickly determined that the brittleness of ice could be reduced by adding wood pulp to its surface, conducting experiments in a freezehouse located in New York City. In another example, he contributed to the development of the “Weasel,” a light, easily maneuverable tank designed for use in the snow-covered mountains of Norway, Sweden, and Finland, by researching the conditions that allowed for optimal movement in such environments.
These projects were very much war-related, simply because that was what was needed at the time, and where much governmental funding was directed. By association, Herman Mark also helped promote Poly through this work, involving other scientists at Poly in these efforts. Of course, he later went on to establish key fundamentals in polymer science, such as the Mark-Houwink equation, which allows the molecular weights of polymers to be measured (Panalytical, 2025), among many other scientific contributions.
While Poly gained several scientists from the broader brain drain beyond just Herman Mark and Herbert Morawetz, the Poly Archives provide the most detailed information about them, with each having their own collection. This allows for accurate, in-depth accounts of their journeys and later contributions. Moreover, both Mark and Morawetz made the journey from Europe to Poly on their own as adults, as opposed to arriving as children, which reduces the archival silence that often results from an earlier migration with less personal recollection.