Émile Argand

Émile Argand (6 January 1879 – 14 September 1940) was a Swiss geologist. He founded the Geological Institute of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Argand is known for his study of the Alps, and was an early proponent of Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift. Argand published a tectonic map of Asia, for which he was awarded the Spendiarov Prize. He also won the Marcel Benoist Prize. A road, a region on the moon and a series of conferences in Europe are named after him, and the International Union of Geological Sciences' highest award is named the Emile Argand Medal.

Life Argand was born in Les Eaux-Vives near Geneva. His father was a government clerk, and his mother was from Savoy. He attended vocational school in Geneva, apprenticed to an architect, then worked as a draftsman. His mother encouraged him to study medicine instead. Argand studied anatomy in Paris, but gave up medicine to pursue his interest in geology. By 1911 he had succeeded Hans Schardt as professor at Neuchâtel. He is also noted for his application of the theory of tectonics to the continent of Asia, which he published first in 1913 and then in revised form in 1924.

Argand founded the Geological Institute of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. The International Union of Geological Sciences' highest award is named the Emile Argand Medal