Nils Johan Berlin
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Nils Johan Berlin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 18 February 1812 Härnösand, Ångermanland, Sweden |
| Died | 27 December 1891 (aged 79) Stockholm, Sweden |
| Alma mater | University of Uppsala |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | chemistry and medicine |
| Institutions | University of Lund |
| Doctoral advisor | Jöns Jacob Berzelius |
Nils Johan Berlin (Nils Johannes Berlin) (18 February 1812 – 27 December 1891) was a Swedish chemist and physician, who held various professorships at the University of Lund from 1843 to 1864. Berlin was the first chemist who took the initiative to write a textbook on elementary science, the purpose being to provide basic science education for the general public.
His chemistry research emphasized the study of minerals, especially the newly-discovered rare earths, having devised means of separating yttrium and erbium. The mineral berlinite (a type of aluminium phosphate) is named after him.[1][2] Berlin became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1844.[3]
Berlin graduated from the University of Uppsala with a doctor of philosophy in 1833, having studied under the tutelage of Jöns Jacob Berzelius. He completed a doctor of medicine degree in 1837, also at the University of Uppsala.[4]: 159
Academic career
Berlin held a number of faculty positions at the University of Lund, beginning in 1843 as a professor of pharmacology. Subsequently he also became a professor of chemistry and mineralogy in 1847,[5] then rector of the university, 1854-1855,[4]: 51 and lastly professor of medical and physiological chemistry in 1862. He served as the Director of the National Board of Hygiene (Sundhetskollegiet) beginning in 1864.[5][3]
Elementary science textbooks
Berlin was the first chemist to write a textbook for elementary science for the general population.[3] Berlin published two popular textbooks, which emphasized description and practical knowledge over theory (of which there was relatively little at the time). Vext-chemien i sammandrag was published in 1835, and Elementar-lärobok i oorganisk kemi first appeared in 1857. It went through 15 editions, selling more than 450,000 copies.[5][3] His textbooks helped to catalyze the teaching of science in elementary schools. They received praise and an award from the Swedish parliament, and were translated into German and Finnish.[3] The third edition of Berlin's textbook, which appeared in 1870, was heavily revised by Christian Wilhelm Blomstrand, who added his own systematization of the elements.[6]
Berlin's father was a vicar. Berlin himself stated in his will that "Science and the thorough testing of its problems and results has never given me reason to doubt the truths of religion". As a scientist, and as a popularizer of science, Berlin situated scientific knowledge securely on a religious basis. This may have been an advantage when selling elementary science textbooks, since pastors often led the local school boards that chose the textbooks for their schools.[3]
