Carl E. Grunsky
Encyclopedia
Carl Edward Grunsky was a geologist
and civil engineer
throughout the mid 19th century. In 1896 Grunsky implemented the innovative gravity-based sewer channeling waste rapidly from North Point to Golden Gate or towards Oakland
. He served as member on the Board of Trustees from 1898 to 1904 at the California Academy of Sciences
where in 1911 he was promoted to secretary and was elected President in 1912.
Before entering the field of geology and civil engineering, Carl Grunsky originally pursued a career in medicine
. After entering a Realschule and Polytechnikum in Stuttgart
, Germany
, he switched to civil engineering. After starting his first career as a city engineer of San Francisco from 1900–1904 and gaining recognition he consequently became a member of the Panama Canal Commission from 1904-1905. From 1905-1907 he served as a consulting engineer for the US Reclamation Service.
He succeeded Dr. Barton Warren Evermann
and acted as a director of Museum of Academy and the Steinhart Aquarium in 1932.
Grunsky spent most of his time working to supervise the rivers. After receiving the Norman Medal of the American Society of Civil Engineers
in 1910, he was elected vice president in 1922 and president in 1924. In 1924 he was also president of the Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
. He was president of the American Engineering Council from 1930-1931. He played a significant role during the St. Francis Dam
expedition. Grunsky and his co-worker John C. Branner announced that the dam was working properly right before the St. Francis dam broke. The breakage of the dam marked the end of William Muholland's career.
G. D. Hanna describes Grunsky as follows: "One faculty he possessed fitted him particularly for presiding over meetings and groups of people. He was a very clear thinker and could organize his subject matter rapidly, yet he spoke with deliberation and crisp enunciation. Political science
, particularly those phases dealing with rates, taxation and forms of money, fascinated him and he published extensively on the subject . He was always interested in art and during his later years found time to paint some backgrounds of the habitat groups of African animals now being installed by the academy."
Grunsky died during an accident at his home in Berkeley, California
, on June 9, 193.
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...
and civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
throughout the mid 19th century. In 1896 Grunsky implemented the innovative gravity-based sewer channeling waste rapidly from North Point to Golden Gate or towards Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. He served as member on the Board of Trustees from 1898 to 1904 at the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
where in 1911 he was promoted to secretary and was elected President in 1912.
Before entering the field of geology and civil engineering, Carl Grunsky originally pursued a career in medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
. After entering a Realschule and Polytechnikum in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Germany
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...
, he switched to civil engineering. After starting his first career as a city engineer of San Francisco from 1900–1904 and gaining recognition he consequently became a member of the Panama Canal Commission from 1904-1905. From 1905-1907 he served as a consulting engineer for the US Reclamation Service.
He succeeded Dr. Barton Warren Evermann
Barton Warren Evermann
Barton Warren Evermann was an American ichthyologist. He was born in Monroe County, Iowa, and graduated from Indiana University in 1886. For 10 years, he served as teacher and superintendent of schools in Indiana and California. He was professor of biology at the Indiana State University in...
and acted as a director of Museum of Academy and the Steinhart Aquarium in 1932.
Grunsky spent most of his time working to supervise the rivers. After receiving the Norman Medal of the American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
in 1910, he was elected vice president in 1922 and president in 1924. In 1924 he was also president of the Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
. He was president of the American Engineering Council from 1930-1931. He played a significant role during the St. Francis Dam
St. Francis Dam
The St. Francis Dam was a concrete gravity-arch dam, designed to create a reservoir as a storage point of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. It was located 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California, near the present city of Santa Clarita....
expedition. Grunsky and his co-worker John C. Branner announced that the dam was working properly right before the St. Francis dam broke. The breakage of the dam marked the end of William Muholland's career.
G. D. Hanna describes Grunsky as follows: "One faculty he possessed fitted him particularly for presiding over meetings and groups of people. He was a very clear thinker and could organize his subject matter rapidly, yet he spoke with deliberation and crisp enunciation. Political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, particularly those phases dealing with rates, taxation and forms of money, fascinated him and he published extensively on the subject . He was always interested in art and during his later years found time to paint some backgrounds of the habitat groups of African animals now being installed by the academy."
Grunsky died during an accident at his home in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, on June 9, 193.