Heinz Ebert
Encyclopedia
Heinz Ebert was a German-Brazilian geologist
, naturalist
, and educator
.
Ebert had his basic training in chemistry
, physics
, and analytical chemistry
and natural sciences and served as geologist at the Geological Survey of Prussia
. He was obtained his PhD
at the University of Leipzig
, where he became an associate professor
in 1934. He worked on petrography
at the Geological Survey of Saxony and developed methods to recognize stratigraphic sequences by petrographic and structural analysis. From 1939 to 1946, World War II
interrupted his geological activity. After the war he returned to geology
and opened an office for applied geology (groundwater
, drilling, economic geology
, geology for dams, etc.)
He moved to Recife
in 1950 and was influential in creating the CAGE (Campaign for Training Geologists). From 1950 to 1956, he was a "specialized geologist" at the Division of Geology and Mineralogy
, which evolved from the old Geological Survey of Brazil, and mapped the regions of São João del Rei
, Juiz de Fora
, and Barbacena
, a whole complex metasedimentary southern region of Minas Gerais
. He was director of Sudene
, training technicians in areas of groundwater in crystalline rocks.
In 1962 he moved to Rio Claro, São Paulo, to teach various subjects in the field of geosciences at the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of the Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, assisting in the creation of the geology course. He continued his studies with attention to the south and southwest of the state of Minas Gerais. He made several trips abroad, bringing to Brazil contributions of his observations and contacts. He had many students, many of them becoming professors and continuing his work, especially in teaching mineralogy, petrology
, structural geology
, and the creation and maintenance of the Museum of Minerals and Rocks "Heinz Ebert". This museum has a vast collection that Ebert donated, including many didactic collections.
Ebert formed in Recife
more graduate students. He published around 60 works on geosciences, especially of Brazil. Between 1977 and 1980 he also collaborated with the course of geology at the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso.
In 1974, Ebert won the Jose Bonifacio Gold Medal of the Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia
, the highest prize in Brazilian geology.
As a naturalist, Ebert had a passion for butterfly
collection. He died in 1983, in Rio Claro, Brazil.
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...
, naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
, and educator
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
.
Ebert had his basic training in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, and analytical chemistry
Analytical chemistry
Analytical chemistry is the study of the separation, identification, and quantification of the chemical components of natural and artificial materials. Qualitative analysis gives an indication of the identity of the chemical species in the sample and quantitative analysis determines the amount of...
and natural sciences and served as geologist at the Geological Survey of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. He was obtained his PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, where he became an associate professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in 1934. He worked on petrography
Petrography
Petrography is a branch of petrology that focuses on detailed descriptions of rocks. Someone who studies petrography is called a petrographer. The mineral content and the textural relationships within the rock are described in detail. Petrographic descriptions start with the field notes at the...
at the Geological Survey of Saxony and developed methods to recognize stratigraphic sequences by petrographic and structural analysis. From 1939 to 1946, 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...
interrupted his geological activity. After the war he returned to geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and opened an office for applied geology (groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
, drilling, economic geology
Economic geology
Economic geology is concerned with earth materials that can be used for economic and/or industrial purposes. These materials include precious and base metals, nonmetallic minerals, construction-grade stone, petroleum minerals, coal, and water. The term commonly refers to metallic mineral deposits...
, geology for dams, etc.)
He moved to Recife
Recife
Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the 5th-largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. The population of the city proper...
in 1950 and was influential in creating the CAGE (Campaign for Training Geologists). From 1950 to 1956, he was a "specialized geologist" at the Division of Geology and 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...
, which evolved from the old Geological Survey of Brazil, and mapped the regions of São João del Rei
São João del Rei
São João del-Rei also spelled São João del Rey or São João del Rei is a historical city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.Population: 40,600 inhabitants....
, Juiz de Fora
Juiz de Fora
-Industry, Trade, and Culture:Juiz de Fora is the second most important industrial center in the state of Minas Gerais, despite being the fourth largest in terms of population. It was once the state's largest city, position which was held up until the beginning of the 20th century...
, and Barbacena
Barbacena
Barbacena is a city and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. As of 2006, the municipality had 124,601 inhabitants. The total area of the municipality is 788 km²....
, a whole complex metasedimentary southern region of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
. He was director of Sudene
Sudene
The Superintendency for the Development of the Northeast , or Sudene for short, is a Brazilian governmental agency created in 1959, during the government of President Juscelino Kubitschek , to stimulate economic growth in the northeastern region of Brazil, one of the poorest of the country, that...
, training technicians in areas of groundwater in crystalline rocks.
In 1962 he moved to Rio Claro, São Paulo, to teach various subjects in the field of geosciences at the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of the Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, assisting in the creation of the geology course. He continued his studies with attention to the south and southwest of the state of Minas Gerais. He made several trips abroad, bringing to Brazil contributions of his observations and contacts. He had many students, many of them becoming professors and continuing his work, especially in teaching mineralogy, petrology
Petrology
Petrology is the branch of geology that studies rocks, and the conditions in which rocks form....
, structural geology
Structural geology
Structural geology is the study of the three-dimensional distribution of rock units with respect to their deformational histories. The primary goal of structural geology is to use measurements of present-day rock geometries to uncover information about the history of deformation in the rocks, and...
, and the creation and maintenance of the Museum of Minerals and Rocks "Heinz Ebert". This museum has a vast collection that Ebert donated, including many didactic collections.
Ebert formed in Recife
Recife
Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the 5th-largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. The population of the city proper...
more graduate students. He published around 60 works on geosciences, especially of Brazil. Between 1977 and 1980 he also collaborated with the course of geology at the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso.
In 1974, Ebert won the Jose Bonifacio Gold Medal of the Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia
Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia
The Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia is a technical and scientific society that aims brings to bring together Brazilian geologists, to disseminate technical and scientific information, and to participate in national decisions involving the geological sciences....
, the highest prize in Brazilian geology.
As a naturalist, Ebert had a passion for butterfly
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
collection. He died in 1983, in Rio Claro, Brazil.
External links
- About Heinz Ebert
- http://www.rc.unesp.br/museudpm/entrar.html Museum of Rocks and Minerals "Heinz Ebert" at Rio Claro, São PauloRio Claro, São PauloRio Claro is a city in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2005 was 195,131 and the area is 521 km². The elevation is 613 m. It was incorporated as the village of São João Batista do Ribeirão Claro in 1827, and this incorporation is celebrated every year on June 24 as a municipal...
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