Knut Fægri | |
|---|---|
 Knut in the 1930s | |
| Born | (1909-07-17)17 July 1909 |
| Died | 10 December 2001(2001-12-10) (aged 92) |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Spouse | Nancy Meyer |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Botanist,palaeoecologist |
| Institutions | University of Bergen |
Knut Fægri (17 July 1909 – 10 December 2001) was aNorwegianbotanist andpalaeoecologist.
Fægri was born inBergen. He was the son of Major Ole A. Fægri (1875–1962) and Gudrun Stoltz (1881–1940) and the nephew of the botanist, natural scientist, and politicianJørgen Brunchorst (1862–1917).
Fægri received hisexamen artium at theBergen Cathedral School in 1926 and received hisdoctorate in 1934 with the thesisÜber die Längenvariationen einiger Gletscher des Jostedalsbre und die dadurch bedingten Pflanzensukzessionen.[1] He was hired as aresearch fellow at the Chr. Michelsen Institute, was appointed professor atBergen Museum in 1946 and from 1948 jointly at the museum and theUniversity of Bergen. He retired in 1979.[2] He was also editor-in-chief of the periodicalNaturen between 1947 and 1977.[2]
Fægri was much engaged in discussions of social issues of broad public interest. He was outspoken in his criticism of the negative effects ofhydroelectric power development on nature andbiodiversity. He often had controversial views. For example, in the 1960s he agitated for a liberal act on use ofmarijuana, which he saw as something the state should leave to the individual citizen to decide about. Privately, he was a proponent ofnaturism and he appeared naked in a discussion on that topic broadcast onSwedish television.[3]
Fægri was named an honorary doctor atUppsala University in 1977, received theMillennium Botany Award in 1999,[4] and was named Commander of theOrder of St. Olav in 1979.[2]
Fægri married the museum director Nancy Meyer (1912–2007) in 1941. Their sonKnut Fægri Jr. became a chemistry professor.
This is a list of Fægri's most notable works:[2]
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