Biographies - Europe
Biographies from the Ecoles des Mines
A long list of notables is memorialized on the Annales des Mines site (in French).
A long list of notables is memorialized on the Annales des Mines site (in French).
Louis Agassiz (1807–1873)
The father of glaciology and a seminal figure in American geology, from the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
The father of glaciology and a seminal figure in American geology, from the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
Louis Agassiz
Part of James Aber's history-of-geology course at Emporia State University is this fine biography.
Part of James Aber's history-of-geology course at Emporia State University is this fine biography.
Georgius Agricola (1494–1555)
The founder of geology's life is treated at the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
The founder of geology's life is treated at the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
Georgius Agricola
Another treatment by James Aber, from his History of Geology course site.
Another treatment by James Aber, from his History of Geology course site.
Svante Arrhenius (1859–1927)
The father of the greenhouse effect, presented by NASA's "Earth Observatory" newsletter.
The father of the greenhouse effect, presented by NASA's "Earth Observatory" newsletter.
Torbern Bergman (1735–1784)
This Swedish scientist made the first chemical classification of minerals (torbernite is named for him) and devised a scheme for the world's rocks that Werner later perfected as Neptunism. A biography by James Aber.
This Swedish scientist made the first chemical classification of minerals (torbernite is named for him) and devised a scheme for the world's rocks that Werner later perfected as Neptunism. A biography by James Aber.
Georges Cuvier (1769–1832)
The great paleontologist's life is recounted at the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
The great paleontologist's life is recounted at the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
Cesare Emiliani (1922–1995)
The founder of paleoceanography was also an extraordinary polymath, academic leader, and humanist. A biography on the Emiliania huxleyi Site.
The founder of paleoceanography was also an extraordinary polymath, academic leader, and humanist. A biography on the Emiliania huxleyi Site.
Beno Gutenberg (1889–1960)
The greatest observational seismologist of them all, Gutenberg divided his career between Germany and America. A biography from the National Academy of Sciences.
The greatest observational seismologist of them all, Gutenberg divided his career between Germany and America. A biography from the National Academy of Sciences.
Arnold Guyot (1807–1884)
This Swiss-born glaciologist and geographer is the eponym for the world's flat-topped seamounts. A biography by Alexander Leitch in "A Princeton Companion."
This Swiss-born glaciologist and geographer is the eponym for the world's flat-topped seamounts. A biography by Alexander Leitch in "A Princeton Companion."
Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859)
The greatest natural scientist of his time, the German baron made large contributions to New World and Asian geology, oceanic science, and stratigraphy. He named the Jurassic, among many other things. A biography by James Aber.
The greatest natural scientist of his time, the German baron made large contributions to New World and Asian geology, oceanic science, and stratigraphy. He named the Jurassic, among many other things. A biography by James Aber.
Maurice and Katia Krafft (1946–1991, 1942–1991)
The First Couple of volcano documenters, who both came from Alsace and died at Unzen two weeks after Pinatubo, are memorialized in French by the ARTE Group.
The First Couple of volcano documenters, who both came from Alsace and died at Unzen two weeks after Pinatubo, are memorialized in French by the ARTE Group.
Inge Lehmann (1888–1993)
The great Danish seismologist whose 1936 paper titled "P' " announced the Earth's inner core. This biography is at the American Geophysical Union's Lehmann Medal site.
The great Danish seismologist whose 1936 paper titled "P' " announced the Earth's inner core. This biography is at the American Geophysical Union's Lehmann Medal site.
Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov (1711–1765)
A giant of Russian science and fundamental contributor to geology and ore mineralogy. James Aber's History of Geology course site hosts this biography.
A giant of Russian science and fundamental contributor to geology and ore mineralogy. James Aber's History of Geology course site hosts this biography.
Milutin Milankovitch (1879–1958)
The Serbian scientist who first learned how Earth's orbit affects its long-term climate, presented by NASA's "Earth Observatory" newsletter.
The Serbian scientist who first learned how Earth's orbit affects its long-term climate, presented by NASA's "Earth Observatory" newsletter.
Andrija Mohorovicic (1857–1936)
The great Croatian seismologist, for whom the Moho is named, is presented on this page from Istrianet.
The great Croatian seismologist, for whom the Moho is named, is presented on this page from Istrianet.
Victor Oppenheim (1906– )
Born in Latvia, Oppenheim was the primary mapper of much of South America. This site from the University of North Texas has copious detail from his colorful life.
Born in Latvia, Oppenheim was the primary mapper of much of South America. This site from the University of North Texas has copious detail from his colorful life.
Nicolaus Steno (Nils Steensen) (1638–1686)
His Prodromus of 1669 laid geology's foundation, but for his religious work he achieved sainthood. A biography by James Aber.
His Prodromus of 1669 laid geology's foundation, but for his religious work he achieved sainthood. A biography by James Aber.
Hans Oeschger (1927–1998)
The Swiss geophysicist who laid the foundation of Ice-Age atmosphere and climate studies (and after whom Dansgaard-Oeschger events are named) is memorialized by the European Geosciences Union, which named a medal for him.
The Swiss geophysicist who laid the foundation of Ice-Age atmosphere and climate studies (and after whom Dansgaard-Oeschger events are named) is memorialized by the European Geosciences Union, which named a medal for him.
Hans Seuss (1909–1993)
Third of the Austrian geologic dynasty, Seuss made basic contributions to planetary chemistry, meteoritics and radiocarbon dating. A biographical memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Third of the Austrian geologic dynasty, Seuss made basic contributions to planetary chemistry, meteoritics and radiocarbon dating. A biographical memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Harald Sverdrup (1888–1957)
Born in Norway, Sverdrup came to fame as an Arctic explorer and later as the revolutionary leader of Scripps Institution of Oceanography. A memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Born in Norway, Sverdrup came to fame as an Arctic explorer and later as the revolutionary leader of Scripps Institution of Oceanography. A memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Alfred Wegener (1880–1930)
The far-reaching geophysicist who first made continental motion a scientific problem, from the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
The far-reaching geophysicist who first made continental motion a scientific problem, from the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
Alfred Wegener
A biography from the U.S. Geological Survey.
A biography from the U.S. Geological Survey.