Berend George Escher
Encyclopedia
Berend George Escher was a Dutch geologist
.
Escher had a broad interest, but his research was mainly on crystallography
, mineralogy
and volcanology
. He was a pioneer in experiment
al geology. He was a half-brother of the artist
M.C. Escher, and had some influence on his work due to his knowledge of crystallography. M.C. Escher created a woodcut ex libris for his brother Beer with a stylized image of a volcano around 1922 (Bool number 91).
Escher was the son of G.A. Escher
, a director of the Dutch watermanagement (s Rijkswaterstaat). Escher spent his youth in Switzerland
. He studied geology at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule
(Technical University) of Zürich
, where he was a pupil of Albert Heim
. He finished his studies in 1911 and returned to the Netherlands where he first became the assistant of M.E.F.T. Dubois
at the University of Amsterdam and then curator
of the geological collections at Delft University. In 1916 he was employed by Royal Dutch Shell
in the Dutch East Indies
.
Escher became professor at Leiden University
in 1922, at the same time he became director of the geological museum there, he was the successor of K. Martin
in that position. Whereas Martin's interest lay mainly with paleontology
and stratigraphy
, Escher was in the first place mineralogist. In Leiden he reorganized the museum by giving more attention to educating the general public in geology. He wrote books on geology, mineralogy and crystallography, scientific as well as for the general public.
His research area was mainly volcanology. He was also interested in the geology of the Moon
. Of importance were his contributions in discussions with F.A. Vening Meinesz
, Ph.H. Kuenen
and J.H.F. Umbgrove
on zones of negative gravitational anomalies
, which they explained by assuming that convection
took place in the mantle
. Eschers' contribution was to research volcanism at these zones. He was also pioneer in using experiment
s to solve geological questions, for which he set up a laboratory
in Leiden.
During the German
occupation of the Netherlands in World War II
, Escher was kept captive by the nazis for some time. After his release he went in hiding till the liberation in 1945.
When Leiden University reopened he became rector magnificus. He retired in 1955. He was elected IAV President (IAV at that time) for two periods (1948–1954).
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
.
Escher had a broad interest, but his research was mainly on crystallography
Crystallography
Crystallography is the experimental science of the arrangement of atoms in solids. The word "crystallography" derives from the Greek words crystallon = cold drop / frozen drop, with its meaning extending to all solids with some degree of transparency, and grapho = write.Before the development of...
, mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
and volcanology
Volcanology
Volcanology is the study of volcanoes, lava, magma, and related geological, geophysical and geochemical phenomena. The term volcanology is derived from the Latin word vulcan. Vulcan was the ancient Roman god of fire....
. He was a pioneer in experiment
Experiment
An experiment is a methodical procedure carried out with the goal of verifying, falsifying, or establishing the validity of a hypothesis. Experiments vary greatly in their goal and scale, but always rely on repeatable procedure and logical analysis of the results...
al geology. He was a half-brother of the artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
M.C. Escher, and had some influence on his work due to his knowledge of crystallography. M.C. Escher created a woodcut ex libris for his brother Beer with a stylized image of a volcano around 1922 (Bool number 91).
Escher was the son of G.A. Escher
George Arnold Escher
George Arnold Escher was a Dutch civil engineer and a foreign advisor to the Japanese government during the Meiji period.He was the father of the graphic artist M. C...
, a director of the Dutch watermanagement (s Rijkswaterstaat). Escher spent his youth in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He studied geology at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
(Technical University) of Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, where he was a pupil of Albert Heim
Albert Heim
Albert Heim was a Swiss geologist, noted for his three-volume Geologie der Schweiz.Born at Zürich, he was educated at Zürich and Berlin universities. Very early in life he became interested in the physical features of the Alps, and at the age of sixteen he made a model of the Tödi group...
. He finished his studies in 1911 and returned to the Netherlands where he first became the assistant of M.E.F.T. Dubois
Eugène Dubois
Marie Eugène François Thomas Dubois was a Dutch paleoanthropologist. He earned worldwide fame for his discovery of Pithecanthropus erectus , or 'Java Man'...
at the University of Amsterdam and then curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
of the geological collections at Delft University. In 1916 he was employed by Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
in the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
.
Escher became professor at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
in 1922, at the same time he became director of the geological museum there, he was the successor of K. Martin
Karl Martin
Johann Karl Ludwig Martin was a German geologist. He was professor in geology at Leiden University from 1877 to 1922. From 1880 to 1922 he also was director of the Geological Museum of Leiden...
in that position. Whereas Martin's interest lay mainly with paleontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
and stratigraphy
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
, Escher was in the first place mineralogist. In Leiden he reorganized the museum by giving more attention to educating the general public in geology. He wrote books on geology, mineralogy and crystallography, scientific as well as for the general public.
His research area was mainly volcanology. He was also interested in the geology of the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. Of importance were his contributions in discussions with F.A. Vening Meinesz
Felix Andries Vening Meinesz
Felix Andries Vening Meinesz was a Dutch geophysicist and geodesist. He is known for his invention of a precise method for measuring gravity. Thanks to his invention, it became possible to measure gravity at sea, which led him to the discovery of gravity anomalies above the ocean floor...
, Ph.H. Kuenen
Philip Henry Kuenen
Philip Henry Kuenen was a Dutch geologist.Kuenen spent his earliest youth in Scotland, where his father was professor in physics. He studied geology at Leiden University, where he was a pupil of K. Martin and B.G. Escher. He finished his studies in 1925 and then became assistant to Escher...
and J.H.F. Umbgrove
Johannes Herman Frederik Umbgrove
Johannes Herman Frederik Umbgrove , called in short Jan Umbgrove, was a Dutch geologist and Earth scientist.Umbgrove studied geology at Leiden University, he finished his studies in 1926...
on zones of negative gravitational anomalies
Gravity anomaly
A gravity anomaly is the difference between the observed acceleration of Earth's gravity and a value predicted from a model.-Geodesy and geophysics:...
, which they explained by assuming that convection
Convection
Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids and rheids. It cannot take place in solids, since neither bulk current flows nor significant diffusion can take place in solids....
took place in the mantle
Mantle (geology)
The mantle is a part of a terrestrial planet or other rocky body large enough to have differentiation by density. The interior of the Earth, similar to the other terrestrial planets, is chemically divided into layers. The mantle is a highly viscous layer between the crust and the outer core....
. Eschers' contribution was to research volcanism at these zones. He was also pioneer in using experiment
Experiment
An experiment is a methodical procedure carried out with the goal of verifying, falsifying, or establishing the validity of a hypothesis. Experiments vary greatly in their goal and scale, but always rely on repeatable procedure and logical analysis of the results...
s to solve geological questions, for which he set up a laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
in Leiden.
During the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
occupation of the Netherlands in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Escher was kept captive by the nazis for some time. After his release he went in hiding till the liberation in 1945.
When Leiden University reopened he became rector magnificus. He retired in 1955. He was elected IAV President (IAV at that time) for two periods (1948–1954).