Willard Bascom
Encyclopedia
Willard Bascom was an engineer and scientist, who first proposed using Neoprene
for wetsuit
s to fellow scientist Hugh Bradner
. He also proposed the hypothesis that anoxic water in the Black Sea
could have preserved ancient Black Sea shipwrecks
. He led the first test drillings for Project Mohole
, and was project director from 1960-1962. Bascom was a consultant to the Advisory Committee on Government Organization
.
Neoprene
Neoprene or polychloroprene is a family of synthetic rubbers that are produced by polymerization of chloroprene. Neoprene in general has good chemical stability, and maintains flexibility over a wide temperature range...
for wetsuit
Wetsuit
A wetsuit is a garment, usually made of foamed neoprene, which is worn by surfers, divers, windsurfers, canoeists, and others engaged in water sports, providing thermal insulation, abrasion resistance and buoyancy. The insulation properties depend on bubbles of gas enclosed within the material,...
s to fellow scientist Hugh Bradner
Hugh Bradner
Hugh Bradner was an American physicist at the University of California who is credited with inventing the neoprene wetsuit, which helped to revolutionize scuba diving.-Early life:...
. He also proposed the hypothesis that anoxic water in the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
could have preserved ancient Black Sea shipwrecks
Ancient Black Sea shipwrecks
Ancient Black Sea shipwrecks is the study of shipwrecks found in the Black Sea which date to Antiquity. In 1976, Willard Bascom suggested that the deep, anoxic waters of the Black Sea might have preserved ships from antiquity because typical wood-devouring organisms could not survive there...
. He led the first test drillings for Project Mohole
Project Mohole
Project Mohole was an ambitious attempt to drill through the Earth's crust into the Mohorovičić discontinuity, and to provide an Earth science complement to the high profile Space Race. The project was initially led by the American Miscellaneous Society with funding from the National Science...
, and was project director from 1960-1962. Bascom was a consultant to the Advisory Committee on Government Organization
Advisory Committee on Government Organization
The U.S. President’s Advisory Committee on Government Organization was established by Executive Order 10432 on January 24, 1953. Members of the committee were appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and served without compensation. Nelson A. Rockefeller served as Chairman until 1958; upon his...
.