Election of Fellows in the AAAS in 1997 was limited to 270 of the 140,000 members. This honor is in recognition by peers for the outstanding contributions to science Mesmer has made, more specifically for the research and administrative contributions that established high-temperature chemistry and thermodynamics of aqueous electrolyte solutions as a distinguishing capability of ORNL.
Mesmer started at ORNL as a member of the Reactor Chemistry Division in1966, and is now section head in the Chemical and Analytical Sciences Division. He received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Rockhurst College, Mo., his master's degree in physical chemistry from the University of Detroit and his doctorate in chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley.
Mesmer is widely known for his co-authorship of a monograph titled "The Hydrolysis of Cations" with C.F. Baes Jr., detailing the reactions of metal ions of the periodic table with water. He is also a member of the American Chemical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Founded in 1848, the AAAS is the world's largest federation of scientists.
Mesmer and his wife, Patricia Anne, live in Tellico Village. They have four children.
ORNL, one of DOE's multiprogram national research and development facilities, is managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation.