Laboratory of Jean-Charles Galissard de Marignac
Designated as «Chemical Landmark» on September 13th, 2011.
The third award of a «Chemical Landmark» in Switzerland goes to Geneva: The «Uni Bastions» of the University of Geneva was awarded in honor of the chemist Jean-Charles Galissard de Marignac (1817-1894) - his laboratory was located in this building.
Uni Bastions at 5, rue de Candolle (Source: BGE, Centre d'iconographie genevoise)
Jean-Charles Galissard de Marignac has its origin in a noble family of Languedoc, which in 1733 took refuge in Geneva. He studied at the Academy of Geneva (since 1873: University of Geneva) and held there a chair from 1841 until his resignation for health reasons in 1878.
Jean-Charles Galissard de Marignac (Source: BGE, Centre d'iconographie genevoise)
This famous scholar owes his fame to the two elements Ytterbium (Yb) and Gadolinium (Gd), which he discovered in the years 1878 and 1880.
Between 1842 and 1883 he also determined with the highest precision the atomic weight of 29 elements, i.e. of more than a third of the known elements at that time. His balance is still preserved at the Musée d'Histoire des Sciences in Geneva.
He has conducted his research at both the University and in the laboratory in his private apartment on the Rue Senebier.
Balance of Jean-Charles Galissard de Marignac at the Musée d'Histoire des Sciences in Geneva (Source: Musée d'Histoire des Sciences de Genève)
The ceremony took place on September 13, 2011 in the "Uni Bastions". Over 80 persons followed the invitation, among them a lot of past and present professors, students and collaborators of the Chemistry Department of the University of Geneva, as well as personalities from politics and economy of the metropolitan area of Geneva, and numerous guest of the family de Marignac.
Prof. Dr. Thierry J.-L. Courvoisier, President Elect of SCNAT, warmly welcomed the attendees. Afterwards, Prof. Dr. E. Peter Kündig, member of the Board of the «Platform Chemistry» gave a brief introduction to the program «Chemical Landmarks». In his Laudatio he acknowledged the lifework and the person of Jean-Charles de Marignac Galissard and his significance for the sciences at this time but also ongoing to the present. The following presentations deepened this image: Gérard de Marignac, historians and direct descendant of J.-C. Galissard de Marignac, explained the historical perspective and gave a closer view of the honored from a much family-internal perspective (presentation). He showed to a variety of images and works from the estate of J.-C. Galissard de Marignac. Prof. Dr. Claude Piguet from the Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry at the University of Geneva showed in his presentation the chemical background of the work of Marignac from the 19th Century to the present days.
Photo: Barbara Winter
After the revelation of the commemorative plaque, Prof. Dr. Jean-Dominique Vassalli, Rector of the University of Geneva, thanked the SCNAT in the name of the university on behalf of the university for the designation and emphasized the importance and tradition of chemistry at the local university.