Humberto Duarte Fonseca | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 20 November 1916 |
| Died | 1983 |
| Nationality | Cape Verdean Portuguese |
| Alma mater | University of Lisbon |
Humberto Duarte Fonseca (20 November 1916 – 1983), was a Cape Verdean scientist.
Humberto Fonseca was born in Mindelo on São Vicente island and was the son of Torquato Gomes Fonseca and Leopoldina Duarte Fonseca. After high school he was invited to teach at Liceu Gil Eanes in Mindelo for a year, he later attended the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon, where he achieved three graduations, all with the highest distinction: math, geophysics and geographic engineering.
He later married Maria Adélia de Barros Fonseca and raised three children, all with the surname Barros Duarte Fonseca: Ana Maria, José Pedro and João Filipe.
He died in Lisbon in 1983.
He entered the National Meteorological Service in 1948, two years later he founded the local Meteorological Observatory in his native city of Mindelo. He was Chief of the Cape Verdean Meteorological Service, sub-director of the Angolan Meteorological Service, and Director of the Geophysic Service and the Portuguese National Meteorological and Geophysical Institute.
He was a chief member during the scientific exploration of Iona and member of the scientific expedition to study the eruption of Pico do Fogo in Cape Verde. He was a Portuguese delegate to International Meteorological Commissions, President of the Portuguese Creativity Association, Director of the Inventive Review and several other roles. He founded the Portuguese Creativity Association in 1970 which promotes the participation of inventors in world level events. He was elected jury member of the International Exhibition of Inventors in Geneva. Duarte Fonseca was honoured as an honorary citizen of Brussels.
A decade after his death, he received the Medal of Gold by the city of Lisbon. A symposium was held in 1993 in Cape Verde dedicated to his life and works,[1] and a street and a school in Mindelo are named after him.[2]
In 2006, the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory [3] was named after him. It is a bilateral research initiative on climate change and air quality supported by Germany and the United Kingdom and is located in the area of Calhau.
In 2011, the Order of Engineers of Cape Verde paid a posthumous tribute to him, with an exhibition of a film about his life and his work.[4]
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