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Otto Warburg (botanist)
Encyclopedia
Otto Warburg was a German
botanist and industrial agriculture
expert, as well as an active member of the Zionist Organization
(ZO). From 1911–21, he served as the president of the ZO, which among other things, sought 'for the Jewish people a publicly and legally assured home in Palestine
."
on 20 July 1859 to a family whose ancestors came to Germany in 1566, possibly from Bologna
. He completed his studies at the Johanneum Gymnasium in Hamburg in 1879, and continued his education in the field of botany
at the University of Bonn
which he left after one semester to move to the University of Berlin, and later to University of Strasbourg
, where he received his Ph.D in 1883. He went on to study chemistry
in Munich
and physiology
in Tübingen
with Wilhelm Pfeffer
. In 1885 he embarked on a 4 year expedition to Southern and Southeastern
Asia, ending in Australia
in 1889. His findings were later (1913–1922) published in three volumes titled Die Pflanzenwelt. Upon his return to Berlin
he co founded Der Tropen Pflanzer, a journal specializing in tropical agriculture which he edited for 24 years. Realizing that as a Jew he would not be appointed full professor, he diverted his attentions to applied botanics, and founded several companies of tropical industrial plantations in Germany's colonies.
Taxa named include the Kei Apple (Dovyalis caffra
), the pitcher plant Nepenthes treubiana
, Virola peruviana
, and Cephalosphaera usambarensis
.
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...
botanist and industrial agriculture
Industrial agriculture
Industrial farming is a form of modern farming that refers to the industrialized production of livestock, poultry, fish, and crops. The methods of industrial agriculture are technoscientific, economic, and political...
expert, as well as an active member of the Zionist Organization
World Zionist Organization
The World Zionist Organization , or WZO, was founded as the Zionist Organization , or ZO, in 1897 at the First Zionist Congress, held from August 29 to August 31 in Basel, Switzerland...
(ZO). From 1911–21, he served as the president of the ZO, which among other things, sought 'for the Jewish people a publicly and legally assured home in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
."
Early life and scientific career
Otto Warburg was born in HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
on 20 July 1859 to a family whose ancestors came to Germany in 1566, possibly from Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
. He completed his studies at the Johanneum Gymnasium in Hamburg in 1879, and continued his education in the field of botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
which he left after one semester to move to the University of Berlin, and later to University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
, where he received his Ph.D in 1883. He went on to study 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....
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
in Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
with Wilhelm Pfeffer
Wilhelm Pfeffer
Wilhelm Friedrich Philipp Pfeffer was a German botanist and plant physiologist who was born in Grebenstein.- Academic career :...
. In 1885 he embarked on a 4 year expedition to Southern and Southeastern
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
Asia, ending in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1889. His findings were later (1913–1922) published in three volumes titled Die Pflanzenwelt. Upon his return to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
he co founded Der Tropen Pflanzer, a journal specializing in tropical agriculture which he edited for 24 years. Realizing that as a Jew he would not be appointed full professor, he diverted his attentions to applied botanics, and founded several companies of tropical industrial plantations in Germany's colonies.
Taxa named include the Kei Apple (Dovyalis caffra
Dovyalis caffra
Dovyalis caffra Warb., the Umkokola, or Kei apple, is a small to medium-sized tree, native to southern Africa. Its distribution extends from the Kei River in the south, from which the common name derives, northwards along the eastern side of the continent to Tanzania...
), the pitcher plant Nepenthes treubiana
Nepenthes treubiana
Nepenthes treubiana is a tropical pitcher plant native to Western New Guinea and possibly also the island of Misool.This species occurs on the cliffs of the McCluer Gulf and in coastal regions of the Fakfak peninsula...
, Virola peruviana
Virola peruviana
Virola peruviana is a species of tree in the Myristicaceae family. It is found in Brazil , Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It grows to a height of about 35 m . The fruit is ellipsoidal, 14-24 mm long and 11-23 mm in diameter, forming groups of about 5 to 15....
, and Cephalosphaera usambarensis
Cephalosphaera usambarensis
Cephalosphaera usambarensis is a species of plant in the Myristicaceae family. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Lovett, J. & Clarke, G.P. 1998. . Downloaded on 21 August 2007....
.