An Exemplary Gay Scientist and Mentor: Martin Gouterman (1931-2020)

Abstract

Martin Gouterman (1931-2020) was one of the foundational figures of modern porphyrin science. After completing his Ph.D. at The University of Chicago in 1958, he joined Harvard, where he developed his eponymous four-orbital model. In 1966, he moved to the University of Washington Seattle (UW). Here he came out as gay and helped set up Seattle's first gay rights group, the Dorian Society. At UW, Gouterman accomplished an "optical taxonomy" of the major classes of porphyrin derivatives and pioneered pressure-sensitive paints based on phosphorescent platinum porphyrins to map the partial pressure of oxygen on airplane wings. Revered by his students and co-workers for his brilliant yet gentle advising, Gouterman remains a beacon for a more humane and inclusive scientific enterprise.

Keywords: LGBTQ+; four-orbital model; gay rights; porphyrins; pressure-sensitive paints.