Friedrich Seifert
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Alfred Seifert (born May 8, 1941) is a German
mineralogist
and geophysicist. He is the founding director of Bayerisches Geoinstitut at University of Bayreuth
. A silicate mineral seifertite
is named after him.
, Germany in 1941. He studied mineralogy at the University of Kiel
and the University of Zurich
and received his PhD degree from the University of Zurich
in 1966 for his work on the rock metamorphosis at high temperatures and pressures. For his post-doctorate work, Seifert moved to University of Bochum and defended a habilitation
thesis in 1970. In 1972, he became professor at the University of Bochum. He then stayed at the Carnegie Geophysical Laboratory
in Washington, DC, where he applied Mössbauer spectroscopy to study the kinetics of the formation of rocks and minerals. After returning to Germany in 1974, he assumed a professor position at the University of Kiel. Seifert changed to the University of Bayreuth
in 1986 and became the first director of the newly founded Bayerisches Geoinstitut at the university.
(1990), German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (1991), Göttingen Academy of Sciences
(1992) and Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities
(2006). In 1987, he was awarded the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize
worth 2.5 million euro. In 2004, he received the Abraham Gottlob Werner
Medal for achievements in the experimental and theoretical petrology
and spectroscopy of minerals and silicate melts.
In 2008, a high pressure polymorph
of quartz
(SiO2), seifertite
, was named after Seifert. This mineral and its name are officially recognized by the International Mineralogical Association
.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
mineralogist
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
and geophysicist. He is the founding director of Bayerisches Geoinstitut at University of Bayreuth
University of Bayreuth
The University of Bayreuth is a public research university situated in Bayreuth, Germany. It was founded in 1975 as a campus university focusing on international collaboration and interdisciplinarity...
. A silicate mineral seifertite
Seifertite
Seifertite is a silicate mineral with the formula SiO2 and is one of the densest polymorphs of quartz. It has only been found in Martian and lunar meteorites where it is presumably formed from either tridymite or cristobalite – other polymorphs of quartz – as a result of heating during the...
is named after him.
Life and work
Seifert was born in DresdenDresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, Germany in 1941. He studied mineralogy at the University of Kiel
University of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
and the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
and received his PhD degree from the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
in 1966 for his work on the rock metamorphosis at high temperatures and pressures. For his post-doctorate work, Seifert moved to University of Bochum and defended a habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
thesis in 1970. In 1972, he became professor at the University of Bochum. He then stayed at the Carnegie Geophysical Laboratory
Carnegie Institution for Science
The Carnegie Institution for Science is an organization in the United States established to support scientific research....
in Washington, DC, where he applied Mössbauer spectroscopy to study the kinetics of the formation of rocks and minerals. After returning to Germany in 1974, he assumed a professor position at the University of Kiel. Seifert changed to the University of Bayreuth
University of Bayreuth
The University of Bayreuth is a public research university situated in Bayreuth, Germany. It was founded in 1975 as a campus university focusing on international collaboration and interdisciplinarity...
in 1986 and became the first director of the newly founded Bayerisches Geoinstitut at the university.
Awards and honors
Seifert is a member of several academic societies, including Academia EuropaeaAcademia Europaea
Academia Europæa is a European non-governmental scientific academy founded in 1988. Its members are scientists and scholars who collectively aim to promote learning, education and research. It publishes European Review through Cambridge Journals....
(1990), German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (1991), Göttingen Academy of Sciences
Göttingen Academy of Sciences
The Göttingen Academy of Sciences is the second oldest of the seven academies of sciences in Germany. It has the task of promoting research under its own auspices and in collaboration with academics in and outside Germany...
(1992) and Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities
Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities
The Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities is an independent public institution, located in Munich. It appoints scholars whose research has contributed considerably to the increase of knowledge within their subject...
(2006). In 1987, he was awarded the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize
The Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize is a research prize awarded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft every year since 1985 to scientists working in Germany. This highest German research prize consists of a research grant of 2.5 million euro, to be used within seven years...
worth 2.5 million euro. In 2004, he received the Abraham Gottlob Werner
Abraham Gottlob Werner
Abraham Gottlob Werner , was a German geologist who set out an early theory about the stratification of the Earth's crust and coined the word Neptunism...
Medal for achievements in the experimental and theoretical petrology
Petrology
Petrology is the branch of geology that studies rocks, and the conditions in which rocks form....
and spectroscopy of minerals and silicate melts.
In 2008, a high pressure polymorph
Polymorphism (materials science)
Polymorphism in materials science is the ability of a solid material to exist in more than one form or crystal structure. Polymorphism can potentially be found in any crystalline material including polymers, minerals, and metals, and is related to allotropy, which refers to chemical elements...
of quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
(SiO2), seifertite
Seifertite
Seifertite is a silicate mineral with the formula SiO2 and is one of the densest polymorphs of quartz. It has only been found in Martian and lunar meteorites where it is presumably formed from either tridymite or cristobalite – other polymorphs of quartz – as a result of heating during the...
, was named after Seifert. This mineral and its name are officially recognized by the International Mineralogical Association
International Mineralogical Association
The International Mineralogical Association is an international group of 38 national societies. The goal is to promote the science of mineralogy and to standardize the nomenclature of the 4000 plus known mineral species...
.