Laudation

Pentti Eelis Eskola
March 25, 1964

Professor Eskola of Finland and Professor Holmes of ... Edinburg... both have made fundamental contributions to man’s knowledge of the earth. Eskola by showing how the evolution of rocks of the earth's crust have decreased, and Holmes by initiating and developing means for dating the rocks.

Professor Eskola started as a chemist. By application of the principles of chemistry he has advanced our understanding of the origin of crystalline rocks. Nearly 50 years ago, he introduced the concept of metamorphic phases by which it is possible to deduce the conditions of temperature and pressure under which a series of rocks of widely different mineralogical composition have been formed. A vital requirement for tracing the evolution of rocks in the earth's crust.

Professor Eskola has received many honors much recognition of his achievements. As far as I know, he's the only person who has received (the Steinbock Medal, the Penrose and Wallison medals. Professor Eskola will speak about the evolution of the earth and the development of life.

Maurice Ewing