Knut Fægri
Encyclopedia
Knut Fægri was a Norwegian botanist and palaeoecologist.
, and took the dr.philos. degree in 1934 with the thesis Über die Längenvariationen einiger Gletscher des Jostedalsbre und die dadurch bedingten Pflanzensukzessionen. He was hired as a research fellow
at the Chr. Michelsen Institute
, was appointed professor at Bergen Museum
in 1946 and from 1948 jointly at the museum and the University of Bergen
. He retired in 1979. He was also editor-in-chief of the periodical Naturen
between 1947 and 1977.
development on nature and biodiversity
. He often had controversial views. For example, in the 1960s he agitated for a liberal act on use of marihuana, which he saw as something the state should leave with the individual citizen to decide about. Privately, he was a proponent of naturism
and he appeared naked in a debate of that topic broadcast on Swedish television
.
in 1977, received the Millennium Botany Award in 1999 and was proclaimed Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1979.
His son Knut Fægri, Jr. became a professor too.
Academic career
Fægri was born in BergenBergen
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 , ....
, and took the dr.philos. degree in 1934 with the thesis Über die Längenvariationen einiger Gletscher des Jostedalsbre und die dadurch bedingten Pflanzensukzessionen. He was hired as 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...
at the Chr. Michelsen Institute
Chr. Michelsen Institute
The Chr. Michelsen Institute was founded in 1930, and is currently the largest centre for development research in Scandinavia. CMI is an independent, non-profit research foundation for policy-oriented and applied development research. Headed by the director Ottar Mæstad, it employs 40 social...
, was appointed professor at Bergen Museum
Bergen Museum
The Bergen Museum is a university museum in Bergen, Norway. Founded in 1825 with the intent of building large collections in the fields of culture and natural history, it became the grounds for most of the academic activity in the city, a tradition which has prevailed since the museum became part...
in 1946 and from 1948 jointly at the museum and the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
. He retired in 1979. He was also editor-in-chief of the periodical Naturen
Naturen
Naturen is a Norwegian periodical.Naturen was started in 1877, and connected to the University of Bergen. It has a popular science approach to the natural sciences, including medicine....
between 1947 and 1977.
Societal engagement
Fægri was much-engaged in debates over societal issues of broad public interest. He was outspoken in his criticism of the negetive effetcts of hydroelectric powerHydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
development on nature and biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
. He often had controversial views. For example, in the 1960s he agitated for a liberal act on use of marihuana, which he saw as something the state should leave with the individual citizen to decide about. Privately, he was a proponent of naturism
Naturism
Naturism or nudism is a cultural and political movement practising, advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism....
and he appeared naked in a debate of that topic broadcast on Swedish television
Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television AB , Sweden's Television, is a national television broadcaster based in Sweden, funded by a compulsory fee to be paid by all television owners...
.
Honours
Fægri was proclaimed honorary doctor at the Uppsala UniversityUppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
in 1977, received the Millennium Botany Award in 1999 and was proclaimed Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1979.
His son Knut Fægri, Jr. became a professor too.
Selected bibliography
This is a list of Fægri's most notable works:- Über die Längenvariationen einiger Gletscher des Jostedalsbre und die dadurch bedingten Pflanzensukzessionen (1934)
- Quartärgeologische Untersuchungen im westlichen Norwegen I-II (1935–40)
- Studies on the Pleistocene of Western Norway III-IV (1943–49)
- Text-Book of Modern Pollen Analysis (4 editions 1950-1989, with Johannes IversenJohannes IversenJohannes Iversen was a Danish palaeoecologist and plant ecologist. He was born in Sønderborg and began studies in botany at the University of Copenhagen in 1923 under professor C.H. Ostenfeld, and with considerable inspiration from prof.em. Christen Raunkiær. At first he worked with macrophyte...
) - Norges planter I (1958)
- Norges planter II 1960)
- The Distribution of Norwegian Vascular Plants: Coast Plants (1960)
- The Principles of Pollination Ecology (1966, with L. van der Pijl)
- Krydder (1966)
- Dikteren og hans blomster (1988)