Famous Danish Scientists

Denmark is today recognized as a frontrunner in several areas of technology and research. The Danish have a long history of scientific and technological achievements. Hans Christian Ørsted, the physicist who discovered that electric currents create magnetic fields, was a Dane whose discoveries shaped advances in science throughout the late 19th century. His protégé William Christopher Zeise became an early proponent of organic chemistry and performed pioneering studies in organosulfur chemistry, discovering the xanthates. Another Danish scientist who made revolutionary contributions to the development of technology was physicist Niels Bohr who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum theory. Inge Lehmann, a seismologist who discovered that the Earth has a solid inner core inside a molten outer core became the first woman to receive the William Bowie Medal. Danish scientists have made significant contributions to various scientific fields and the country has produced Nobel laureates such as Niels Ryberg Finsen, Jens Christian Skou, and Henrik Dam. Schack August Steenberg Krogh, a pioneer in comparative studies on animals, became famous for developing the Krogh Principle. This section provides you information about the life and works of famous Danish scientists.