Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
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The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) is a research institution specializing in the Earth sciences and is part of Columbia University. The current director of LDEO is G. Michael Purdy.
The Observatory was one of the centers of research that led to the development of the theory of Plate Tectonics as well as many other notable scientific developments.
LDEO is located in Palisades, New York on a property overlooking the Hudson River which was once the weekend residence of banker Thomas W. Lamont. Originally known as "Torrey Cliff", this property was endowed to the University by Mr. Lamont's widow, Florence Haskell (Corliss) Lamont (1873-1952). In 1969, the Observatory was renamed "Lamont-Doherty" following a gift from the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation. (Henry Latham Doherty (1870-1939) was the founder of the Cities Service Company.) The first director of the Observatory was Maurice Ewing. The Lamont campus also houses the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) and the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN).
