Editorial

Orville Derby and his contribution to the geosciences

Abstract

The name of the journal Derbyana, a periodical dedicated to geosciences published by the Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais, pays tribute to Orville Adelbert Derby (1851–1915), one of the pioneers of geosciences in Brazil and a founder of the São Paulo Geographical and Geological Commission, established in 1886, which conducted pioneering research on soil, climate, geomorphology, geology, and hydrography within the state of São Paulo. In addition to his work on the systematic mapping of the state of São Paulo, Derby played a decisive role in establishing geological knowledge of various parts of Brazil. He helped organize the first geoscientific collections in Brazil and conducted significant research on geology, paleontology, stratigraphy, mineral resources, physical geography, geomorphology, meteorology, and geological hazards. He was also a pioneer in Brazilian meteorite research. The purpose of this section is to highlight the importance and diversity of Orville Derby’s work for the geosciences and its impact on current research, through a collection of articles written by experts in each field. We are grateful for the participation of Prof. Dr. Mauricio Borges of the Federal University of Pará in coordinating this section.