Marc-Auguste Pictet
Encyclopedia
Marc-Auguste Pictet was a physicist
, chemist
, meteorologist
and astronomer
from Geneva
, Switzerland
.
Pictet's scientific research was far ranging, but leaning towards natural sciences, such as astronomy [In honour to his researches, a crater of the Moon has been called by his name. (1)]
, chronometry
, but especially meteorology. In 1790, Pictet was one of the eight founding members of the Geneva Society of Physics and Natural History. In 1796, he, his younger brother Charles
, and his friend Frédéric-Guillaume Maurice began writing and publishing a monthly periodical entitled Bibliothèque Britannique
. It covered wide ranging scientific topics from a literary, economic, and policy standpoint.
Pictet was a member of the Royal Society of London and of the Académie des Sciences. His expertise and relationships extended as far as the United States
, and Thomas Jefferson
, with whom he corresponded. Pictet was the director of the Geneva Observatory for approximately 30 years, and as such oversaw the installation of a meteorological station on Great St. Bernard mountain in the Alps
. His work in astronomy was recognized by having a crater of the Moon, Pictet
, named after him.
The Geneva Society of Physics and Natural History offers a yearly award to a graduate student level researcher called the Marc-Auguste Pictet Prize. It is awarded to "a student whose work is recognized as an authority in the history of science". Winners are chosen by a panel of University of Geneva
professors and field experts. The prize itself is a medal and a cash award provided by the Marc-Auguste Pictet Fund.
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...
, chemist
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....
, meteorologist
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
and astronomer
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
from Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, 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....
.
Pictet's scientific research was far ranging, but leaning towards natural sciences, such as astronomy [In honour to his researches, a crater of the Moon has been called by his name. (1)]
, chronometry
Chronometry
Chronometry is the science of the measurement of time, or timekeeping.It should not to be confused with chronology, the science of locating events in time, which often relies upon it.-See also:...
, but especially meteorology. In 1790, Pictet was one of the eight founding members of the Geneva Society of Physics and Natural History. In 1796, he, his younger brother Charles
Charles Pictet de Rochemont
Charles Pictet de Rochemont was a statesman and diplomat who prepared the declaration of Switzerland's permanent neutrality ratified by the great powers in 1815....
, and his friend Frédéric-Guillaume Maurice began writing and publishing a monthly periodical entitled Bibliothèque Britannique
Bibliothèque Britannique
The Bibliothèque Britannique was a monthly journal of the sciences and the arts published in Geneva by Marc-Auguste Pictet, his younger brother Charles, and his friend Frédéric-Guillaume Maurice. It covered a wide range of scientific, literary, economic, and political topics. It was created in...
. It covered wide ranging scientific topics from a literary, economic, and policy standpoint.
Pictet was a member of the Royal Society of London and of the Académie des Sciences. His expertise and relationships extended as far as the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, with whom he corresponded. Pictet was the director of the Geneva Observatory for approximately 30 years, and as such oversaw the installation of a meteorological station on Great St. Bernard mountain in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
. His work in astronomy was recognized by having a crater of the Moon, Pictet
Pictet (crater)
Pictet is a lunar impact crater located just to the east of the larger and more prominent impact crater Tycho. The high-albedo rays and ejecta from Tycho lie across Pictet and spread far to the east and in other directions. Pictet is older than Tycho and is somewhat worn by past impacts. The...
, named after him.
The Geneva Society of Physics and Natural History offers a yearly award to a graduate student level researcher called the Marc-Auguste Pictet Prize. It is awarded to "a student whose work is recognized as an authority in the history of science". Winners are chosen by a panel of University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
professors and field experts. The prize itself is a medal and a cash award provided by the Marc-Auguste Pictet Fund.