Aleksis Dreimanis facts for kids

Aleksis Dreimanis (born August 13, 1914 – died July 8, 2011) was a Latvian Canadian geologist. He studied the Quaternary period, which is the most recent time in Earth's history. He was born in Valmiera, Latvia.

Life and Work of Aleksis Dreimanis

Aleksis Dreimanis first studied geology at the University of Latvia in Riga. This was at the Institute of Palaeontology. In 1939, he started working there as a lecturer. During World War II, he also helped map Quaternary deposits for the Latvian Institute of Mineral Resources. He was later asked to work as a geologist for the German Army in Italy and Germany. After the war, Dr. Dreimanis became an Associate Professor at the Baltic University. This university was set up in Displaced Persons camps in Hamburg and Pinneberg, Germany.

In 1948, Dr. Dreimanis moved to Canada. He became a lecturer at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. Many Canadian groups asked for his expert advice on Quaternary geology. These included the Geological Survey of Canada and the Ontario Department of Mines. He also advised on projects like the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority. The university promoted him to Associate Professor in 1956. He became a full Professor in 1964. In 1980, he was named an Emeritus Professor. During his more than 40 years at the university, he wrote over 200 papers. These papers were all about his research in Quaternary geology.

From 1974 to 1982, Dr. Dreimanis was an international advisor. He worked with groups like the Polish Academy of Sciences. He also advised the Geological Survey of Finland and Finland's Ministry of Education.

Dr. Dreimanis always stayed connected to Latvia. He often visited Riga and Tallinn, Estonia, as an invited lecturer. He helped with the Dictionary of Latvian Technical Terminology from 1970 to 1986. He also worked as an associate editor for the Technical Review Journal (for Geology) starting in 1979. From 1973 to 1976, he led the Commission on Technical and Natural Sciences. This was part of the Latvian Cultural Foundation.

He passed away on July 8, 2011. He died at University Hospital in London, Ontario.

Important Roles and Duties

• 1960, He was a delegate to the International Geological Congress.
• 1965, 1969, 1973, 1977 and 1982, He was a Canadian delegate to the International Quaternary Association (INQUA) Congresses.
• 1965, He helped organize an INQUA field trip in the Great Lakes-Ohio River Valley.
• 1972, He helped organize another INQUA field trip with the Montreal lGC.
• He was President of the INQUA Commission on how Quaternary deposits form.
• He was President of the INQUA Working Group on tills (a type of glacial deposit).
• 1974-1984, He led the Canadian team for a UNESCO-IUGS project. This project studied Quaternary Glaciations in the Northern Hemisphere.
• 1974-1980, He served as a Councillor for the American Quaternary Association.
• 1975, He helped organize a conference on Glacial Till for the Royal Society of Canada.
• 1976-1978, He was an Associate Editor for Geoscience Canada magazine.
• 1980-1982, He was President of the American Quaternary Association.
• 1981-1987, He was an Associate Editor for Quaternary Science Reviews journal.
• 1987, He was made an Honorary Member of INQUA.

Awards and Honors

• 1967, He received the Canadian Centennial Medal.
• 1969, He was given an honorary D.Sc. degree from the University of Waterloo.
• 1978, He was awarded the Logan Medal by the Geological Association of Canada.
• 1979, He was appointed to the Royal Society of Canada.
• 1980, He received an honorary D.Sc. degree from the University of Western Ontario.
• 1987, He was given the Distinguished Career Award by the Geological Society of America.
• 1987, He received the Centennial Medal from the Geological Survey of Finland.
• 1988, He was awarded the Albrecht Penck Medal by the German Quaternary Association.
• 1989, He received the W. A. Johnston Medal from the Canadian Quaternary Association.
• 1990, He was made an Honorary Member of the Geographical Society of Latvia.
• 1990, He became a Foreign Member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.
• 1990, He was awarded the University of Helsinki Medal by the University of Helsinki.
• 1991, He received an honorary D.Geogr. degree from the University of Latvia.
• 2003, He was awarded the Order of the Three Stars of Latvia. This was for his important contributions as a scientist to Latvian culture.