Tripti Joshi (Editor)

Maria Bakunin

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Name
  
Maria Bakunin

Role
  
Chemist


Died
  
1960, Naples, Italy

Parents
  
Mikhail Bakunin

Maria Bakunin wwwmariabakunincomwpcontentgallerynewyorkma

Grandparents
  
Aleksandr Bakunin, Varvara Bakunina

Maria bakunin la chimica napoletana declinata al femminile


Maria Bakunin (also known as Marussia Bakunin) was born in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, on 2 February 1873 and died in Naples on 17 April 1960. She was an Italian chemist and biologist, the daughter of the well-known revolutionary philosopher Mikhail Bakunin.

Contents

Education

Maria, even as a young student, became “preparer” at the Federico II University chemical laboratory in Naples, where in 1895 she graduated in chemistry with a degree thesis on stereochemistry.

Career

Following her graduation, Bakunin received the Academy prize for physica and mathematics in Naples in 1900. In 1909 she went to work teaching applied chemistry at the Scuola Superiore Politecnica in Naples, where in 1912 she became Chair in Applied Technological Chemistry.

Work in Earth Sciences

In 1906 Bakunin was part of a group studying the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, and in 1909 she compiled a geological map of Italy. As part of the map project, she studied the oil shale and ichthyolithic deposits of mountains in the Salerno area of Italy. Following this, from 1911 until 1930, Bakunin worked as a consultant for local governments and companies interested in industrial development of ichthyol mines in the Giffoni district (Monti Picentini).

Later career

After the Second World War, Bakunin worked with Benedetto Croce to rebuild the Accademia Pontaniana, and in 1944 she was elected its president. In her capacity as president, Bakunin restored the Academy's library.

Family

Bakunin was the aunt of the famous Neapolitan mathematician Renato Caccioppoli. The story tells that in 1938 Renato was imprisoned after he delivered a speech against Fascism but his aunt, Maria, was able to obtain his release by persuading the inquisitors on Renato capability of intents.

References

Maria Bakunin Wikipedia