Alumnus Richard Larson writes mystery novel

Richard A. Larson, Ph.D., who earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1963, has written a science “in” mystery novel, “Degrees of Freedom.” 

Larson earned his doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1968. He is a professor emeritus from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he taught environmental chemistry form 1979 to 2003, with expertise in environmental chemistry, natural products chemistry, and soil and water science. 

Semi-retired after 24 years as a professor, Larson decided to write a murder mystery novel that he feels more accurately portrays scientists’ lives as people. His novel focuses on the mysterious death of a college chemistry professor.

Larson is a native of North Dakota, but has lived in Monticello, MN, since 1990.