Thorbergur Thorvaldson

Thorbergur Thorvaldson
Born August 24, 1883
Iceland
Died October 4, 1965
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Occupation Chemist

Thorbergur Thorvaldson M.Sc., PhD. (August 24, 1883 – October 4, 1965) was an Icelandic-Canadian chemist. He was the head of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Saskatchewan.

Thorvaldson and his team at the National Research Council developed a sulphate-resistant cement in 1919 which prevented decay and deterioration in existing structures.[1][2] He served as president of the Canadian Institute of Chemistry in 1941.[3] In 1946 he was named first dean of graduate studies at the University of Saskatchewan.

Biography

Thorvaldson's family settled in Gimli, Manitoba. Thorvaldson graduated from the University of Manitoba with honours.[4]

Awards

He was made a Knight ( Riddari ) in the Order of the Falcon ( Hin íslenska fálkaorða ) in 1939.[3]

Henry Marshall Tory Medal was awarded to Thorbergur Thorvaldson, FRSC Professor Emeritus at the University of Saskatchewan in 1951.[5]

Other honours

The official dedication ceremony of the Chemistry Building on the University of Saskatchewan campus was held June 1966 wherein the building was named in honour of Thorbergur Thorvaldson. Thorvaldson was a pioneer researcher in the development of cement that would not deteriorate in alkaline ground water areas.[6]

In 1966, Thorvaldson Lake in northern Saskatchewan was named in his honour.

Thorvaldson Lake Location: 55°49′N 104°28′W / 55.817°N 104.467°W [3]

References

  1. ↑ National Research Council Canada (February 16, 2004), Science & Tech Innovations - National Research Council Canada, retrieved September 7, 2007
  2. ↑ DMT Multimedia Unit (February 16, 2004), University of Saskatchewan Research - Discovery @ U of S: Innovation Gallery : A Century of UofS Innovation, retrieved September 7, 2007
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Freeman, Gordon r.; Historica Foundation of Canada Canadian Encyclopedia (2007), Thorvaldson, Thorbergur, retrieved 2007-09-04
  4. ↑ DMT Multimedia Unit (2007), RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada ..., archived from the original on October 7, 2006, retrieved September 7, 2007
  5. ↑ RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada : Henry Marshall Tory Medal, May 16, 2005, archived from the original on 2006-10-07, retrieved 2007-09-07
  6. ↑ University Archives, Deo et Patriae: Events in the History of the University of Saskatchewan, retrieved September 7, 2007

See also