Knut Schmidt-Nielsen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Knut Schmidt-Nielsen
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Bodil Mimi Krogh Schmidt-Nielsen, Knut Schmidt-Nielsen, and Barbara Wagner.
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| Born | September 24, 1915 |
| Died | January 25, 2007 (aged 91) |
| Spouse(s) | Bodil Schmidt-Nielsen (divorced) Margareta Claesson (m. 1977–his death) |
| Awards | International Prize for Biology (1992) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Duke University |
Knut Schmidt-Nielsen (born September 24, 1915 – died January 25, 2007) was a very important scientist. He studied how animals work and adapt to their surroundings. He was a Professor of Physiology at Duke University in the United States.
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Early Life and Education
Knut Schmidt-Nielsen was born in Trondheim, Norway. He went to school in Oslo and Copenhagen. In 1937, he began studying in the lab of a famous scientist named August Krogh.
Later, Schmidt-Nielsen moved to the United States. He continued his studies at several universities, including Swarthmore College and Stanford University. His early education helped him become a leading expert in animal physiology.
Exploring Animal Adaptations
Knut Schmidt-Nielsen was known for his exciting research trips. He led expeditions to the Sahara Desert in 1953–54. He also traveled to central Australia in 1962. These trips helped him study how animals survive in harsh environments.
He spent more than twenty years studying how camels live in the desert. He helped explain how these amazing animals can go for long periods without water. His work showed that many old ideas about camels were actually myths.
A Leader in Science
Schmidt-Nielsen joined Duke University in 1952. He became a special professor there, known as a James B. Duke Professor. He wrote over 275 scientific papers. He also wrote an important book about how animals work.
Many scientists call him "the father of comparative physiology." This means he was a pioneer in studying how different animals' bodies work. He helped us understand how animals adapt to their homes.
In 1980, he became the President of the International Union of Physiological Sciences. He also started a science magazine called News in Physiological Sciences. He was a member of many important science groups around the world.
To honor his work, there is a statue of Knut Schmidt-Nielsen at Duke University. It shows him looking at a camel, celebrating his famous research. In 1992, he received the International Prize for Biology for his amazing contributions to science.
Books by Knut Schmidt-Nielsen
Knut Schmidt-Nielsen wrote several books that helped explain animal physiology to many people:
- How Animals Work (1972)
- Animal Physiology: Adaptation and Environment (1975)
- Desert animals: Physiological problems of heat and water (1979)
- Scaling: Why Is Animal Size So Important? (1984)
- The Camel's Nose: Memoirs Of A Curious Scientist (1998)
