Teiichi Kobayashi: his life and works, with an emphasis on his contribution to the history of the geosciences in Japan

Abstract

AbstractTeiichi Kobayashi (1901–96), a major figure in the history of Japanese geology and palaeontology, was one of the founding members of INHIGEO. He is best known for his work on the Sakawa orogenic cycle and its bearing on the origin of the Japanese islands, which was published in 1941. He researched the geology and palaeontology of the Palaeozoic in East and SE Asia between 1964 and 1984 and published work on cephalopods and trilobites in Asia. During his research, he always recognized the importance of the history of the geological sciences. In 1972, he proposed and organized a committee dedicated to the history of the Japanese geosciences. Based on his awareness of the social significance of the geosciences and their history in Japan, he also contributed to the promotion of Chigaku (earth science) education in high schools and in universities.