Beyond Scientific Ingenuity: The discovery of the ‘Dansgaard-Oeschger Events’ and its socio-cultural context

Abstract

Half a century ago, two physicists from small European countries revolutionised a minor research field and transformed it into one of the most powerful disciplines within climate science. With their work on ice cores, Hans Oeschger (1927-1998) in Switzerland and Willi Dansgaard (1922-2011) in Denmark set the basis for a new scientific field that would fundamentally change our understanding of climate and climate change. It also enabled Switzerland and Denmark, despite their small sizes, to become big players in paleoclimate research. Eventually, the “Dansgaard-Oeschger events” (abrupt climatic changes in the past) have been named after the two physicists, acknowledging their key roles in the discovery. However, the success of these two scientists did not just root in their scientific ingenuity alone. It also required good timing, engagement in interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific competition, and the skills to build an international network. What were the specific political, cultural and scientific settings in Switzerland and Denmark respectively that allowed these physicists to thrive and successfully compete with scientific superpowers like the USA or France? Who were the “dwarfs” that enabled such a discovery like the Dansgaard-Oeschger events, and what was the role of team spirit and networks in general? Drawing on archival sources from both countries, this presentation will investigate such questions, analyse how and why these two scientists became “giants” in climate science, and reflect on the role of the archives in how this story has been and can be told.