Technikatörténeti szemle 19. (1992)

KÖNYVISMERTETÉS - Papers of the First „MINERALKONTOR” International Conference on the History of Chemistry and Chemical Industry (Veszprém, 12-16 August, 1991)

The women students were alloved to take degrees in chemistry and amounted in 1910 to one third of all students. The first doctoral thesis in chemistry of a women was presented in 1903. In the same time the demand for laboratory space increased rapidly. A large annex to the old Arppeanum was inaugurated ii 1887. With small additions this building served for its purpose over 90 years. Ossian Aschan (1868—1939, professor 1908—1939) succeded Edvard Hjelt. Aschan devoted his scientific activities to terpene and camphor chemistry as his famous contemporary colleague in the Technical University (promoted to university 1908) Gustaf Komppa (1867—1949, professor 1908—37, chancellor of the new University of Turku 1935—45). During Aschans time the research and teaching was further developed. In 1915 docent Lars W. Oholm (1872—1944, professor 1915—39) was appointed second professor in chemistry. His main field of research was electrochemistry, diffusion and general physical chemistry. 6hoim was director of the laboratory from 1928—39. Ohohns successor Kurt Buch (1942—49) devoted his research to marine chemistry and exact measurements of pH. The time after the First World War Finland was not a battle ground during the first world war. It suffered therefore only marginally. Also the short duration of the civil war in 1918 caused that the university teaching and research could continue with only a short breaks and no damages on buildings and equipment. The break in trade contacts and scholar contacts with Russia changed however the working conditions significantly. The reconstruction of the university system in the new Baltic stated and the foundation of the new universities in Turku (the Swedish Abo Academy (1918) and the Finnish University of Turku (1920) opened new working chances for young academic chemistry teachers. In addition the expanding industry needed well educated chemists and engineers. This very promising development ended with the worldwide long lasting economic depression in 1929. The recovery had just started a few years before the Second World War. The data for doctoral theses in chemistry given in Table 2 reflect nicely the trend. Chairs in inorganic chemistry (1937), biochemistry (1938) and physical chemistry (1941) were founded. Artturi I. Virtanen, Nobel Prize winner in chemistry in 1945 was nominated professor in biochemistry in 1939 (professor 1939—48). His main subject was the biochemistry of nitrogen. Later the chair was split from the main chemical teaching and a separate discipline was formed. Professor in inorganic chemistry, Sulo Kilpi (1938—55) devoted his research to electrochemical methods of inorganic analysis. The time after the Second World War The Second World War caused large economic and material losses for Finland. The intellectual milieu changed also gradually through the political reorientation. The development of the university system after the war is very complex Therefore we consider this period here only briefly. During the 1941—44 academic studies were only partly possible as the biggest part of the teachers and students were in military service. During the war