{"id":33819,"date":"2023-09-12T13:27:26","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T11:27:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ing.uwr.edu.pl\/history-of-the-institute\/"},"modified":"2023-09-21T11:34:09","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T09:34:09","slug":"history-of-the-institute","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ing.uwr.edu.pl\/en\/history-of-the-institute\/","title":{"rendered":"History of the Institute"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"A.
Arthur Kampf, “Professor Steffens urges his listeners to be enthusiastic about fighting for freedom,” a painting depicting a lecture by Prof. Henrik Steffens, co-founder of geological studies at the University of Wroc\u0142aw, during which he calls for the formation of a military team among students to fight against the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte. Year 1813.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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History of the Institute<\/h1>\n\n\n

The emergence of mineralogy as a science is closely linked to the region of Lower Silesia. This area was one of the regions where medieval mining transformed into modern mineralogy and geology. The beginnings of teaching broadly understood geology \u2013 previously geognosy \u2013 in Wroc\u0142aw are difficult to determine, but lectures were already held in the second half of the 18th century at the former higher education institution run by the Jesuits \u2013 the predecessor of the current University. The breakthrough period for the development of geological sciences is considered the beginning of the 19th century and the establishment of the Friedrich Wilhelm University of Silesia in Wroc\u0142aw. Since then, scientific activity in the field of geological and mineralogical sciences has been at a very high level. Notable figures who worked here include the crystallographer M.L. Frankenheim, physicist G. Kirchhoff, chemist R. Bunsen, and botanist H.R. Goppert. The Department of Geognosy and the Mineralogical Cabinet were established at the University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The development of geological sciences can be divided into two main periods. The first is the years 1811\u20131945<\/strong>, while the second begins in already Polish Wroclaw after 1945<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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19th century<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The first director of the Mineralogical Cabinet, as well as a professor of mineralogy and geology, was Karl von Raumer, a former mining counselor in the Berlin Ministry of Mining. His 1811 publication contradicted his teacher Werner’s theories, aligning instead with plutonist perspectives and British geologists’ opinions. Raumer is often associated with the earliest geological explorations of the Karkonosze Mountains. His efforts led to the placement of the purchased mineralogical collection on Ku\u017anicza Street, a location that later formed the nucleus of the Mineralogical Museum. After Raumer’s departure from Wroc\u0142aw, H. Steffens took over geology lectures. Steffens authored a comprehensive 4-volume mineralogy textbook and, in 1811, identified a new mineral \u2013 ilvaite. He also published research on the geology of the Sudeten Foreland and the contact points of coal seams with porphyry veins. Notably, the early development of geology in the Silesian region involved Polish figures, like A. Kaluza, who wrote a 1819 textbook providing the earliest account of Silesian minerals. The years 1832-1855 mark the end of the active scientific and educational activity of the mineralogist E. F. Glocker. After Steffens’ departure, Glocker assumed the roles of a mineralogy professor and director of the Mineralogical Cabinet. He established his scientific legacy, ushering in a new phase of intensive mineralogical development in Wroc\u0142aw. Glocker’s significant accomplishments encompass the discovery of nine new minerals, including cyanotrichite, celadonite, and chalcostibite. Noteworthy too is the period from 1836 to 1854 when distinguished crystallographer and physicist M.L. Frankenheim delivered select lectures on mineralogy and introduced the concept of spatial networks.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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