Ernst Nowack
9.10.1981-7.3.1946
Ernst Nowack was born at 9 October 1881 in Mnischek, a locality in northwest of Prague (Czhechia). His father was a paint manufacturer and lector in the Academy of German Arts in Prague.
After the high school at 1990 in Prague, Nowack began the universitary studies in the german University of Karl-Ferdinand near the Prof. A Grund in department of geography (direction of morphologic physic), near the Prof. F. Wähner in the department of geology and near Prof. A. Pelican in the department of petrology.
At year 1914 have presented the thesis about the geological construction of the central Bohemia, mainly concentred on the Silurian age. After the thesis, participate in the oceanic discovery of the Adriatic sea on the board of the ship "Najade", as assistant of Prof. Grund.
Dr. Nowack come for the first time in Albania at Autumn of the year 1918 as war geologist of the Austro-Hungarian army, after the service from the begin of the war in the south Tirol front. His mission covered the Tirana-Durres-Elbasan-Mallakastra area and southern.
By the end of War at year 1918 till 1922 work as lector of geology and minerals near the High School of Geology in Leoben (Austria).
The most complete technical and scientific activity on the field of geology, Dr. Nowack have realized in Albania. The Albanian government, contract him at 1922 with the mission of the state geologist in the Geological Office near the Ministry of agriculture and Public Works. The invitation was maked from the Ministre of Finance Zef Curani, that was the first who had the idea of the foundation of the Albanian Geological Survey.
With the establishment of this Office the scientific explorations to resolve the the topic requests of the Albanian government had way. In this work Ernst Nowack was helped by his translator and Friend Ago Agaj, and two Berliner Dr. H. Louis geographer and the botanist Dr. F. Macgraf.
The first mission was the geologic exploration and the perspective of the mineral ore bodies and petroleum fields. The second one was the eloaboration and the publication of the Geological Map of Albania on 1:200 000 scale.
The first report about the field works is sended from Vlora at 22 March 1922. From the weekly reports of Nowack we notify about the ore bodies explored and the recommendations for their utilization.
Understanding the high perspective in minerals of the country, Nowack propose to the government the construction of a railway along the coast that will traverse the main cities, and the enlargement of the ports, recommended for this reason a English company that was offered to undertake this impress costless.
The first Geological map of Albania on 1:200 000 scale, Dr. Ernst Nowack have finish to complete and published at 1929 in Insbruk, and at the same year published and the explanatory text in germane language in Salzburg.
For the first time this text was translated in Albanian language from Doc. Luan Peza at year 1962 and after the publication in the department of the publication of the State University of Tirana, was used as the text of Geology of Albania for the students in the Faculty of Geology and Mine, during a long period.
Except this capital work, Dr. Nowack have published a series of scientific articles about the geology of Albania in Tirana, Berlin, Wien, Stuttgart, Leipzig, Hale, Madrid etc. The last publication about this theme, date on the year 1931.
Later Dr. Nowack works in others countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, till his dead at 1946, caused from malaria during e geological expedition in Eastern Africa.
His scientific activity, have a great importance for the Albanian geology not only historically but for the actuality that conserve yet.
Kujtim ONUZI, Sokol Marku