Bernhard Studer

Who was Bernhard Studer?

Bernhard Studer, Swiss geologist, was born at Büren, near Bern.

Although educated as a clergyman, he became so interested in geology at the university of Göttingen that he devoted his life to its pursuit. He subsequently studied at Freiburg, Berlin and Paris, and in 1816 was appointed teacher of mathematics and physics at the Bern Academy.

In 1825 he published Beyträge zu einer Monographie der Molasse. Later on he commenced his detailed investigations of the western Alps, and published in 1834 his Geologie der westlichen Schweizer-Alpen. In the same year, largely through his influence, the university of Bern was established and he became the first professor of mineralogy. His Geologie der Schweiz in two vols., and his geological maps of Switzerland, prepared with the assistance of Arnold Escher von der Linth, are monuments of his research.

In 1859 he organized the geological survey of Switzerland, being appointed president of the commission, and retaining this position until the close of his life. It was remarked by Jules Marcou that Studer was present at the first meeting of the Société helvétique des sciences naturelles at Geneva on October 6, 1815, and remained a member during 72 years. He was awarded the Wollaston medal by the Geological Society of London, in 1879.