Richard K. Vitek, a 1958 chemistry graduate, began his career as a research chemist producing uranium from ore, before moving on to work as a scientist, director and startup CEO. His accomplishments include working with the U.S. Coast Guard to develop UV imaging instruments that analyze oil spills to identify the tankers responsible and develop a method of testing arsenic levels in wine that led the Environmental Protection Agency to impose stricter limits on pesticide use in U.S. vineyards.
Share This Story
Spark a Memory?
Share your story! Fill out the form below to share your fondest memory or anecdote of S&T. If you'd prefer not typing, you can also share by phone at 833-646-3715 (833-Miner150).
Going nuclear
Missouri S&T is home to the state’s first nuclear reactor. Operational since 1961 and one of only three nuclear reactors…
Genevieve (DuBois) and Greg Sutton
Active in the mining industry and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Genevieve (DuBois) and Greg Sutton first met…
Behind every weather forecast
The next time you’re watching the Weather Channel, you might want to thank S&T alumnus Harry Smith for equipping today’s…
Four months away from Earth
Sandra “Sandy” Magnus has been part of three space flights and spent more than four months in space during her…
Giving others an opportunity
Steven Frey works to ensure others have the opportunity to attend graduate programs at S&T like he did. Frey says…
Houston, we have a slight case of nausea
NASA referred to its KC-125 aircraft as the “weightless wonder” because it carried college students and their experiments into micro-gravity…