Spending his early life in Switzerland, he received a PhD at Erlangen and a medical degree in Munich. After studying with Georges Cuvier and Alexander von Humboldt in Paris, Agassiz was appointed professor of natural history at the University of Neuchâtel. He emigrated to the United States in 1847 after visiting Harvard University. He went on to become professor of zoology and geology at Harvard, to head its Lawrence Scientific School, and to found its Museum of Comparative Zoology.
Vie et carrière
Agassiz is known for observational data gathering and analysis. He made institutional and scientific contributions to zoology, geology, and related areas, including multivolume research books running to thousands of pages. He is particularly known for his contributions to ichthyological classification, including of extinct species such as megalodon, and to the study of historical geology, including the founding of glaciology.
His theories on human, animal and plant polygenism have been criticised as implicitly supporting scientific racism.
Faits clés
- Born: May 28, 1807 in Haut-Vully, Switzerland
- Décès : 1873
- Domaine : Science
- Distinctions : Wollaston Medal (1836)
Héritage et influence
The influence of Louis Agassiz extends far beyond their own lifetime. They fundamentally shaped our understanding of the natural world, and their discoveries and theories remain foundational to this day.
Bien que disparu en 1873, ses idées continuent d'être étudiées, débattues et prolongées par des chercheurs et praticiens du monde entier.
Louis Agassiz demeure l'un des esprits les plus célèbres issus de Switzerland, témoignage du riche héritage intellectuel de la région.
Génies notables de Switzerland
Switzerland a donné naissance à de nombreux esprits remarquables. Aux côtés de Louis Agassiz :
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