Victor Moritz Goldschmidt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Victor Moritz Goldschmidt - Essay Example The family had a history of scientists and philosophers from Victor's fathers and mother's side. In 1914, he became the Professor and Director at Mineralogical Institute of Oslo, when he was offered this position. He worked in this position till 1929. After this he moved to Gttingen. The first important contribution made by him was in the field of geology and mineralogy. Goldschmidt went into geochemistry after the death of raw material in World War 1. The general studies that he carried out marked the beginning of modern geochemistry. His work, Geochemical Laws of the Distribution of the Elements, volume 8 in 1923-38, laid the foundation of inorganic crystal chemistry. (Biography.com) According to Goldschmidt, "The primary purpose of geochemistry is on the one hand to determine quantitatively the composition of the earth and its parts, and on the other to discover the laws which control the distribution of the individual elements."(Bob Weintraub) His doctorate thesis, 'Die hpontaktmetamorphose im Kristianiagebiet' and 'Geologisch-petro-graphische Studien im Hochgebirge des siidlichen Norwegens,' are known as his first two major works. The first publications for geochemistry were 'Geo-chemische Verteilungsgesetze der Elemente.' These were a series of publications under this title. In 1921, he was able to show an electrical balance between the positive and negative ions using an X-ray crystallography. These ions are the most important factor in crystal structure. Goldschmidt's work on the cosmic abundance of the elements and the links between isotopic stability and abundance was led by the analysis of geochemistry, astrophysics and nuclear physics. In 1935, Goldschmidt moved to Norway because of the rise of Nazism. When World War II started Goldschmidt had to move again. He went to Sweden first and then Britain. In Britain he worked in the field of soil science and once the war ended he returned back to Norway. At the time of the war, Goldschmidt always carried a cyanide capsule with him just in case he was caught. According to Goldschmidt cyanide was for chemists, while rope was for mechanical engineers. (Msn Encarta) Goldschmidt got a doctoral fellowship at the age of 21 from the University and a Norwegian doctor's degree when he was 23 years old. There have not been many people who have done this. He did not even have to take the usual exams or degrees to achieve these levels. The Norwegian doctor's degree is usually received after the age of 30 and some people have received it after the age of 50. Thus, it was a big achievement. Goldschmidt won the noblest scientific award 'Fridtjof Nansens belonning,' in 1912, for his work 'Die Kontaktmetamorphose im Kristiania-gebiet.' When he applied for a Professorship in Stockholm, the University was able to give him the same position. This was a special case because the Norwegian University does not offer a position until two years have passed since the appointment. Goldschmidt identified the main difference between geochemical elements of geological evolution. He out them into four groups: 'siderophile, chalcophile, lithophile, and atmophile'. He also identified the fact that the earth and the meteorites have a common origin. He developed the Mineralogical Phase Rule;

Is the War on Drugs Effective Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 1

Is the War on Drugs Effective - Research Paper Example In the mid-eighties the social and economic costs of drug abuse became a major social welfare issue and precipitated an anti-drug social welfare policy (Mosher and Atkins 2007, p. 202). Acknowledging that there is a substantial link between drug abuse and deviant/criminal conduct and that drug rehabilitation services were not satisfactorily reducing drug abuse, the US government developed a policy characterized as a â€Å"war on drugs† in the 1980s (Ax and Fagan 2007, p. 338). The war of drugs is centered around a prohibitive policy which is reminiscent of previous anti-war policies but with increased emphasis on the interdiction of drugs at or destined for US borders. The US anti-drug policy targets production, consumption and distribution of illicit drugs with the aim of increasing the cost of drug production and use. The costs for both users and producers are economic and abstract in that the criminal justice system in involved (Harris, Tamas and Lind 2008, p. 118). Since the most implementation of the social welfare policy initiatives encapsulated under the declaration of war on drugs in the mid-eighties, the criminal justice system has played an increasingly significant role. Drug related arrests, sentencing and imprisonment have increased â€Å"substantially† (Mosher and Atkins 2007, p. 202). Despite â€Å"hundreds of billions of dollars† spent in the criminal justice system pursuant to these policies, there are serious doubts as to whether or not the policies falling under the war on drugs are effective. Mendoza (2010) reporting for the Associated Press notes that the war on drugs has cost the US â€Å"US$1 trillion and hundreds of thousands of live† and yet, â€Å"drug use is rampant and violence even more brutal and widespread†.