Jaan-Mati Punning
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jaan-Mati Punning | |
|---|---|
 Punning in 1999 | |
| Born | 13 March 1940 Mooste, Estonia |
| Died | 21 November 2009 (aged 69) Tallinn, Estonia |
| Citizenship | Estonian |
| Alma mater | Tartu State University |
| Awards | Order of the White Star, 4th Class Scientific Prize of the Republic of Estonia Estonian Academy of Sciences Medal |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Geochemistry, paleogeography, ecology |
| Institutions | Institute of Geology Institute of Ecology, Tallinn University University of Tartu |
Jaan-Mati Punning (13 March 1940 – 21 November 2009) was an Estonian geochemist, paleogeographer and ecologist. His work focused on isotope geochemistry, radiocarbon dating, Quaternary and Holocene environmental history, and long-term human impact on northern European landscapes and lakes.[1][2] He was professor of geoecology at Tallinn University, director of the Institute of Ecology from 1992 to 2005, and president of the Estonian Geographical Society from 1985 until his death.[3][4]
Punning was born on 13 March 1940 in Mooste, in present-day Põlva Parish.[5][2] He graduated from Tartu I Secondary School (now, Hugo Treffner Gymnasium) in 1958 and from Tartu State University in 1963 with a degree in chemistry.[3] He received a Candidate of Sciences degree in geology and mineralogy in 1968 and a doctorate in geography from the Institute of Geography in Moscow in 1981.[3]
After graduating, Punning worked in engineering and research posts connected with the Geological Survey and the Estonian Academy of Sciences, and from 1970 to 1987 he was a laboratory head at the Institute of Geology.[3][2] He later served as scientific director of the Institute of Thermophysics and Electrophysics, director of the Institute of Ecology and Marine Research, and then director of the Institute of Ecology.[3] He was professor at the University of Tartu from 1986 to 1992 and at Tallinn Pedagogical University from 1993; after the reorganisation of the latter into Tallinn University, he continued there as a leading researcher and professor of geoecology.[3][4]
Research
Punning's research combined geochemistry, physical geography, palaeoecology and environmental history.[1][2] He took part in research on glacier dynamics in Svalbard, the Pamir and the Urals, and he was associated with the development and application of radiocarbon and isotope methods in Estonian earth and environmental science.[2][6][7]
His published work covered Late Pleistocene glaciation chronology, Holocene Baltic Sea level changes, the dating of peat deposits, pollen-based reconstruction of land-use history, and changes in lake levels and sediment composition in Estonia, including Lake Peipsi.[6][8][7][9][10][11] Memorial notices published after his death credited him with establishing a leading isotope laboratory at the Institute of Geology and with publishing more than 500 scientific papers.[1][2]
Beyond his own research, Punning was active in science administration and public policy. He served on the Academic Council of the President of Estonia and sat on editorial boards including Oil Shale and the Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences series in geology and biology/ecology.[3] He was also made an honorary member of the Estonian Geographical Society and of the Russian Geographical Society.[3][2]
