Finnish Geodetic Institute: Prof. W. A. Heiskanen

Abstract

PROF. BONSDORIT has now resigned from the directorship of the Finnish Geodetic Institute, and has been succeeded by Prof. W. A. Heiskanen. Prof. Heiskanen was born in 1895 in Kangaslampi, Finland. He was senior geodesist in the Finnish Geodetic Institute during 1921–28, lecturer in geodesy in the University of Helsinki from 1926, professor of geodesy the Finland Institute of Technology during 1928–49, chief of the Geodetic Section of the Finland Institute of Technology during 1935–49, and director of the International Isostatic Institute from 1936. He was also a member of the Finnish Parliament during 1933–36. He was chairman of the Finnish Geographical Society during 1941–42, chairman of the Astronomical Society Ursa for about fifteen years, member of the Finnish Academy of Sciences from 1928, member of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences from 1947, and honorary member of the Geographical Society of Netherlands from 1938. The most important of Prof. Heiskanen's scientific works concern isostasy, the figure of the earth, and the distribution of gravity on the earth's surface. Most of these works are published in the series of the Finnish Geodetic Institute, the Baltic Geodetic Commission, the International Association of Geodesy, and the Isostatic Institute.