Evidence Performed by Alexander von Humboldt
- NameRhine Field Excursion with Georg Forster
- Description
Fragmented book learning left Humboldt without a practical blueprint for how to conduct active, rigorous field exploration in the real world. He joined the celebrated naturalist Georg Forster, a veteran of Captain Cook's second voyage around the world, on a formative scientific journey down the Rhine river and across Western Europe.
This immersive trip taught him how to use sophisticated field instruments, analyze geographic features in context, and view nature as an interconnected web, directly providing the inspiration for his future American expeditions.
- Start Date1790-03-25
- Duration4 months
- TypePersonal
- ForJunior Field Researcher
- Primary ResponsibilitiesRecording systematic empirical weather and geological observations along the Rhine valley. Collecting and identifying plant variants across shifting regional landscapes. Utilizing basic navigational and surveying tools to chart physical geographic features. Discussing and analyzing environmental dependencies alongside an experienced field mentor.
Used Skills
- Rankof 22Details(name, duration, recency, competency)NameDurationRecencyCompetency
- Botanical Classification34 years199 years agoAdvanced Beginner4
- Empirical Data Acquisition4 years196 years agoAdvanced Beginner4
- Field Biogeography3 years223 years agoAdvanced Beginner3
- Cartography & Surveying1 year, 4 months226 years agoNovice2