Vassilis Papazachos
Encyclopedia
Vassilis Papazachos is a Greek
seismologist
.
Born 30 September 1929 in the village of Smokovo in Karditsa Prefecture
, Vassilis Papazachos studied physics in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
. He first became involved in geophysics
as an assistant of professor Angelos Galanopoulos. Later in his career he became Professor of Seismology in the Aristotle University, where he still serves as a professor emeritus
.
Papazachos has always attracted publicity in his country Greece, which is highly seismogenic and has been tormented by many earthquakes both in historic and prehistoric times. He is an ardent opposer of Panayotis Varotsos
and the VAN method
for earthquake forecast, which he called "the greatest science joke of the century".
Vassilis Papazachos has also been involved in Greek politics for long time. A supporter of the left, he was asked by the Communist Party of Greece
to lead their ticket and run for mayor of Thessaloniki
, but he refused, saying that such active involvement would distract him from his scientific work. However, he eventually ran for mayor in his birthplace with the support of the Synaspismos party of the radical left. He was also a candidate state MP in the 2000 Greek legislative election, again for Synaspismos.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
seismologist
Seismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
.
Born 30 September 1929 in the village of Smokovo in Karditsa Prefecture
Karditsa Prefecture
Karditsa is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Thessaly. Its name is derived from its capital Karditsa, a small city of approximately 35,000 people.-Geography:...
, Vassilis Papazachos studied physics in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the largest Greek university, and the largest university in the Balkans. It was named after the philosopher Aristotle, who was born in Stageira, Chalcidice, about 55 km east of Thessaloniki, in Central Macedonia...
. He first became involved in geophysics
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
as an assistant of professor Angelos Galanopoulos. Later in his career he became Professor of Seismology in the Aristotle University, where he still serves as a professor emeritus
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...
.
Papazachos has always attracted publicity in his country Greece, which is highly seismogenic and has been tormented by many earthquakes both in historic and prehistoric times. He is an ardent opposer of Panayotis Varotsos
Panayotis Varotsos
Panayotis Varotsos is a Greek physicist , full professor in the Department of Physics of the University of Athens since 1986, notable for his VAN method to predict earthquakes. His group claims the ability to identify electromagnetic signals that are precursors to earthquakes...
and the VAN method
VAN method
The VAN method is a controversial method for earthquake prediction based on the assumption that minerals under mechanical stress emit characteristic electrical signals. The name of the method derives from the surname initials of each of its inventors, Greek physicists Panayotis Varotsos, Caesar...
for earthquake forecast, which he called "the greatest science joke of the century".
Vassilis Papazachos has also been involved in Greek politics for long time. A supporter of the left, he was asked by the Communist Party of Greece
Communist Party of Greece
Founded in 1918, the Communist Party of Greece , better known by its acronym, ΚΚΕ , is the oldest party on the Greek political scene.- Foundation :...
to lead their ticket and run for mayor of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, but he refused, saying that such active involvement would distract him from his scientific work. However, he eventually ran for mayor in his birthplace with the support of the Synaspismos party of the radical left. He was also a candidate state MP in the 2000 Greek legislative election, again for Synaspismos.
External links
- Biography, in Greek