Leo Picard facts for kids
Leo Picard (born June 3, 1900 – died April 4, 1997) was an important Israeli geologist. He was especially good at finding and studying underground water, a field called hydrogeology.
About Leo Picard
Leo Picard was born in Germany in 1900. He studied at many famous universities in places like Freiburg and Berlin in Germany, and also in Paris and London. He even taught at the University of Florence in Italy.
Picard first visited the area known as Mandate Palestine in 1922. He moved there in 1924. He then started the first Department of Geology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1943, he wrote a very important book called "Structure and Evolution of Palestine." This book became a main guide for studying geology in Israel.
Leo Picard was an expert in hydrogeology, which is the study of how water moves underground. He was also a great general geologist. He wrote about many topics, including ancient life (paleontology) and rock layers (stratigraphy). He also studied how the Earth's crust moves and changes (structural geology and tectonics). He even looked at minerals and where valuable ores could be found.
One of his most famous contributions was to a big discussion about the Dead Sea Rift. This is a long valley where the Earth's crust is pulling apart. Picard wondered if the sides of the rift had slid past each other a lot. Instead, he thought the rift formed because the land was stretching and pulling apart.
In 1955, he became the head of a special committee for dry areas at UNESCO. After this, he became an international advisor. His research helped many countries in Africa and Latin America find and develop their water resources.
Leo Picard passed away in 1997 in Kibbutz Ginegar, a community in northern Israel.
Awards and Recognition
Leo Picard received many honors for his important work:
- From 1951 to 1953, he was the very first president of the Israel Geological Society.
- In 1958, he won the famous Israel Prize for his work in life sciences. This is one of Israel's highest honors.
- In 1981, he received the "Yakir Yerushalayim" award, which means "Worthy Citizen of Jerusalem." This award is given by the city of Jerusalem.
- A street in the Har Homa neighborhood of Jerusalem is named after him.
- The Leo Picard Groundwater Research Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Rehovot campus is also named in his honor.
See also
- List of Israel Prize recipients
