Bjørn Føyn
Encyclopedia
Bjørn Føyn was a Norwegian zoologist, especially known for researching the genetics
of algae
.
He was born in Trondhjem
as a son of educator and major Anton Christian Føyn (1865–1940) and Olga Barth Nielsen (1870–1959). He finished
his secondary education at Trondhjem Cathedral School in 1918, and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
with the cand.real. degree in 1927. He was a research assistant
from 1923 to 1928 at the Royal Frederick University, and then under Max Hartmann at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für Biologie from 1929 to 1932. He was also a research fellow
in Norway during this period, and from 1932 to 1937 he worked in Bergen
. From 1938 to 1968 he was a professor at the University of Oslo. He was elected as a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
in 1938, and of the Zoologisch-Botanische Gesellschaft of Vienna
in 1963.
He had taken the doctorate in 1935 with the thesis Lebenszyklus, Cytologie und Sexualität der Chiorophycee Cladophora Suhriana Kiltzing, on the algae Cladophora
. Other notable publications include the textbook in biology for upper secondary schools; Biologi for gymnasiet ("Biology for the Gymnasium"), which was released for the first time in 1941 together with Trygve Braarud
, and released for the last time in 1964. The popular
work Norges dyreliv ("Animal Life of Norway") came in four volumes between 1947 and 1950, edited by Føyn together with Johan Huus, Gudrun Ruud and Hagbart Røise. It too was reissued later.
In the 1938 popular release Arvelæren, he criticized racial biology as practiced in Nazi Germany
. Then, in World War II
came the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
. When the Nazi authorities were about to change the rules for admission to the university in autumn 1943, a protest ensued. In retaliation, the authorities arrested 11 staff, 60 male students and 10 female students. The staff Johannes Andenæs
, Eiliv Skard
, Johan Christian Schreiner, Harald Krabbe Schjelderup, Anatol Heintz
, Odd Hassel
, Ragnar Frisch, Carl Jacob Arnholm
, Endre Berner
and Bjørn Føyn were sent to Grini concentration camp. Føyn was first incarcerated at Bredtveit from 15 October to 22 November, then at Berg
until 8 December, then at Grini until 24 December 1944.
Føyn married fellow science student Bibba Ruud (1900–1985) in 1927. Through her he was a brother-in-law of Johan T. Ruud. He was also a first cousin of Ernst Føyn. He died in January 1985 in Oslo.
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
of algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
.
He was born in Trondhjem
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
as a son of educator and major Anton Christian Føyn (1865–1940) and Olga Barth Nielsen (1870–1959). He finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education at Trondhjem Cathedral School in 1918, and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
with the cand.real. degree in 1927. He was a research assistant
Research assistant
A research assistant is a researcher employed, often on a temporary contract, by a university or a research institute, for the purpose of assisting in academic research...
from 1923 to 1928 at the Royal Frederick University, and then under Max Hartmann at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für Biologie from 1929 to 1932. He was also a research fellow
Research fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
in Norway during this period, and from 1932 to 1937 he worked in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
. From 1938 to 1968 he was a professor at the University of Oslo. He was elected as a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
in 1938, and of the Zoologisch-Botanische Gesellschaft of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1963.
He had taken the doctorate in 1935 with the thesis Lebenszyklus, Cytologie und Sexualität der Chiorophycee Cladophora Suhriana Kiltzing, on the algae Cladophora
Cladophora
Cladophora is a genus of reticulated filamentous Ulvophyceae . The genus Cladophora contains many species that are very hard to tell apart and classify, mainly because of the great variation in their appearances, which is affected by habitat, age and environmental conditions...
. Other notable publications include the textbook in biology for upper secondary schools; Biologi for gymnasiet ("Biology for the Gymnasium"), which was released for the first time in 1941 together with Trygve Braarud
Trygve Braarud
Trygve Braarud was a Norwegian botanist. He specialized in marine biology, and was affiliated with the University of Oslo for most of his career.-Career:...
, and released for the last time in 1964. The popular
Popular science
Popular science, sometimes called literature of science, is interpretation of science intended for a general audience. While science journalism focuses on recent scientific developments, popular science is broad-ranging, often written by scientists as well as journalists, and is presented in many...
work Norges dyreliv ("Animal Life of Norway") came in four volumes between 1947 and 1950, edited by Føyn together with Johan Huus, Gudrun Ruud and Hagbart Røise. It too was reissued later.
In the 1938 popular release Arvelæren, he criticized racial biology as practiced in Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. Then, in 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...
came the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
. When the Nazi authorities were about to change the rules for admission to the university in autumn 1943, a protest ensued. In retaliation, the authorities arrested 11 staff, 60 male students and 10 female students. The staff Johannes Andenæs
Johannes Andenæs
Johannes Bratt Andenæs, often shortened to Johs. Andenæs was a Norwegian jurist. He was a professor of jurisprudence at the University of Oslo from 1945 to 1982, and served as rector from 1970 to 1972....
, Eiliv Skard
Eiliv Skard
Eiliv Skard was a Norwegian classical philologist.-Personal life:He was born in Levanger as a son of educators Matias Skard and Gyda Christensen . The family moved to Kristiansand in 1901...
, Johan Christian Schreiner, Harald Krabbe Schjelderup, Anatol Heintz
Anatol Heintz
Anatol Heintz was a Norwegian palaeontologist.He was born in Petrograd to the geophysicist Yevgeniy Alfredovich Heintz and Olga Fyodorovna Hoffmann . He had two older siblings. In 1919 the family fled to Norway...
, Odd Hassel
Odd Hassel
Odd Hassel was a Norwegian physical chemist and Nobel Laureate.-Biography:Born in Kristiania, his parents were Ernst Hassel, a gynaecologist, and Mathilde Klaveness. In 1915, he entered the University of Oslo where he studied mathematics, physics and chemistry, and graduated in 1920...
, Ragnar Frisch, Carl Jacob Arnholm
Carl Jacob Arnholm
Carl Jacob Arnholm was a Norwegian jurist.He was born in Oslo as a son of civil servant Carsten Johannes Andersen and Gunvor Henriksen . He finished his secondary education in Kristiania in 1917, and graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1921. After one year as deputy judge he worked as a junior...
, Endre Berner
Endre Berner
Endre Qvie Berner was a Norwegian chemist.He was born in Stavanger as a son of businessperson Endre Qvie Berner, Sr. and his wife Anna Marie Gjemre...
and Bjørn Føyn were sent to Grini concentration camp. Føyn was first incarcerated at Bredtveit from 15 October to 22 November, then at Berg
Berg concentration camp
Berg was a concentration camp near Tønsberg in Norway that served as an internment and transit center for political prisoners and Jews during the Nazi occupation of Norway.-Establishment:...
until 8 December, then at Grini until 24 December 1944.
Føyn married fellow science student Bibba Ruud (1900–1985) in 1927. Through her he was a brother-in-law of Johan T. Ruud. He was also a first cousin of Ernst Føyn. He died in January 1985 in Oslo.