Leif Størmer
Encyclopedia
Leif Størmer was a Norwegian
paleontologist and geologist. He was professor of historical geology
at the University of Oslo
from 1946 to 1975. His father was the famous mathematician Carl Størmer
.
(now Oslo) to Fredrik Carl Mülertz Størmer (1874–1957) and Adelaide Clauson (1877–1973). His brother was Per Størmer (1907–1991), who became a botanist. Leif Størmer went to school in Kristiania, and became interested in paleontology
and geology
. In 1923, he took his examen artium
, and studied thereafter at the University of Oslo
. He graduated with the cand.mag.
and the dr.philos. degrees in 1928 and 1931, respectively. In 1931–32, Størmer resided in the United States
with a Rockefeller Foundation
grant. On 23 May 1932, he married Ingegerd ("Tutti") Wiborg Alten (1912–) in New York.
. From 1932 to 1937, he was a research fellow
, thereupon assistant, and in 1940 conservator
at the Museum of Paleontology. In 1946, he was appointed professor of historical geology
at the University of Oslo. From 1957 to 1959, he was dean
at the university's faculty of science and mathematics. During the Second World War, Størmer participated in the Norwegian resistance movement
as a treasurer for Milorg
. After the war, he participated in Statens lønnskommisjon av 1946 ("The State's Wage Commission of 1946") and in the committee that prepared the Norwegian law of nature conservation (1956). Størmer also had positions in several Norwegian and international organisations in science after the war. He was notably a board member of the International Paleontological Union and of the International Geological Union. From 1960 to 1965, he headed the International Stratigraphy Commision.
Størmer authored about 70 publications on paleontology and geology in his life. He also wrote a few popular science
articles for different Norwegian magazines. In 1940, he became a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
. Størmer was concerned about communicating his knowledge in a popular scientific way. He was one amongst three editors of the fourth edition of the popular encyclopedia Aschehougs konversasjonsleksikon and published in 1966 a textbook titled Jorden og livets historie ("The History of the Earth and Life"). In 1961, he was decorated as Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav. He also received the Reusch Medal
(1937), the Bergen Price (1945) and the Fridtjof Nansen Price (1965). In May 1979, he died in Oslo, aged 73.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
paleontologist and geologist. He was professor of historical geology
Historical geology
Historical geology is the use of the principles of geology to reconstruct and understand the history of the Earth. It focuses on geologic processes that change the Earth's surface and subsurface; and the use of stratigraphy, structural geology and paleontology to tell the sequence of these events...
at the University of Oslo
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...
from 1946 to 1975. His father was the famous mathematician Carl Størmer
Carl Størmer
Fredrik Carl Mülertz Størmer was a Norwegian mathematician and physicist, known both for his work in number theory and for studying the movement of charged particles in the magnetosphere and the formation of aurorae....
.
Early life and education
Størmer was born in KristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
(now Oslo) to Fredrik Carl Mülertz Størmer (1874–1957) and Adelaide Clauson (1877–1973). His brother was Per Størmer (1907–1991), who became a botanist. Leif Størmer went to school in Kristiania, and became interested in paleontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
and geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
. In 1923, he took his examen artium
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...
, and studied thereafter at the University of Oslo
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...
. He graduated with the cand.mag.
Cand.mag.
Candidatus magisterii , Candidata magisterii , i.e. Latin Candidate of Arts, abbreviated cand.mag., is an academic degree used in Denmark, and formerly in Norway and Iceland, roughly corresponding to an American Master of Arts and officially translated as such...
and the dr.philos. degrees in 1928 and 1931, respectively. In 1931–32, Størmer resided in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with a Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
grant. On 23 May 1932, he married Ingegerd ("Tutti") Wiborg Alten (1912–) in New York.
Career and death
In 1930, Størmer was employed as a conservator vicar at the Museum of Paleontology in Oslo. One year later, he took his dissertation Skandinaviske Trinucleidae, which introduced numerous publications on the construction, nature and development of the trilobiteTrilobite
Trilobites are a well-known fossil group of extinct marine arthropods that form the class Trilobita. The first appearance of trilobites in the fossil record defines the base of the Atdabanian stage of the Early Cambrian period , and they flourished throughout the lower Paleozoic era before...
. From 1932 to 1937, he was 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...
, thereupon assistant, and in 1940 conservator
Conservator (museum)
A conservator is a professional who works on the conservation of objects. Their work involves determining the structural stability of an object, addressing problems of chemical and physical deterioration, and performing corrective treatment based on an evaluation of the aesthetic, historic, and...
at the Museum of Paleontology. In 1946, he was appointed professor of historical geology
Historical geology
Historical geology is the use of the principles of geology to reconstruct and understand the history of the Earth. It focuses on geologic processes that change the Earth's surface and subsurface; and the use of stratigraphy, structural geology and paleontology to tell the sequence of these events...
at the University of Oslo. From 1957 to 1959, he was dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
at the university's faculty of science and mathematics. During the Second World War, Størmer participated in the Norwegian resistance movement
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
as a treasurer for Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
. After the war, he participated in Statens lønnskommisjon av 1946 ("The State's Wage Commission of 1946") and in the committee that prepared the Norwegian law of nature conservation (1956). Størmer also had positions in several Norwegian and international organisations in science after the war. He was notably a board member of the International Paleontological Union and of the International Geological Union. From 1960 to 1965, he headed the International Stratigraphy Commision.
Størmer authored about 70 publications on paleontology and geology in his life. He also wrote a few popular science
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...
articles for different Norwegian magazines. In 1940, he became 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...
. Størmer was concerned about communicating his knowledge in a popular scientific way. He was one amongst three editors of the fourth edition of the popular encyclopedia Aschehougs konversasjonsleksikon and published in 1966 a textbook titled Jorden og livets historie ("The History of the Earth and Life"). In 1961, he was decorated as Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav. He also received the Reusch Medal
Reusch Medal
The Reusch Medal is a medal which is awarded by the Norwegian Geological Society since 4 January 1926 in memory of Norwegian geologist Hans Henrik Reusch....
(1937), the Bergen Price (1945) and the Fridtjof Nansen Price (1965). In May 1979, he died in Oslo, aged 73.