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| In Deutsch |
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| In Deutsch |
Emil Racovita
1868-1947
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| Image: the entrance to the Speological Institute at Cluj. |
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| Image: Emil Racovita monument in Cluj. |
Emil Racovita is the founder of speleologic research in Romania.
He was a scientist interested in the geology, but mainly in the biology of
caves.
Despite the wish of his father, he might become a lawyer he graduate in zoology
at the Faculty of Science on the Sorbonne.
He became famous for his excellent Doctor thesis and for the results of the
Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897-1899) where he participated.
In 1904 he visited the famous
Cuevas del Drach
on Mallorca, Spain.
After a new species of cave crustaceans was found in this cave he cought fire
and dedicated his life to the biospeleology (cave biology).
He initiated an international research program called Biospeologica.
By the way: this is not a mispelling: he omitted an "le" from biospeleology, to
make the word easier to say and write.
And until today the Romanian word for speleology is speology in his honour.
Racovita was a renowned scientist and famous speleologist, and last but not
least an early and active cave protector.
He worked at Klausenburg, today called Cluj and was Director of the
Speological Institute for 27 years (1920-1947).
See also
