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William George Schneider, OC, FRS, FRSC, scientist, scientific administrator (born 1 June 1915 in Wolseley, SK; died 18 February 2013 in Ottawa, ON). Schneider received his Bachelor of Science (1937) and Master of Science (1939) degrees from the University of Saskatchewan and his PhD (1941) from McGill University.
From 1943 to 1946 he was employed by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, leaving it to join the National Research Council (1946–80). There he was successively director of the division of pure chemistry (1963–65), vice-president, scientific (1965–67) and president (1967–80). After retiring, Schneider served with the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, including two years as its president (1983–85). He was also a chemical consultant who advised small start-up companies.
Schneider published extensively in molecular forces, critical phenomena, ultrasonics, nuclear magnetic resonance and organic semiconductors.
He received many honours and awards, including fellowship in the Royal Society (London), the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) and the Chemical Institute of Canada. The RSC presented him with the Henry Marshall Tory Medal in 1969. Schneider was named an Officer in the Order of Canada in 1976.
