Laudatio für Prof. Dr. h. c. Eduard Imhof zur Ehrenmitgliedschaft bei der NGZ, Jahresversammlung vom 9. Juni 1979

Summary

This laudatory address marks the election of Professor Eduard Imhof as an honorary member of the Natural Science Society of Zurich and assesses his exceptional contribution to cartography. Through a biographical review of his teaching, research, and institutional leadership at ETH Zurich, it shows how he united artistic expression with scientific precision. Imhof advanced cartographic generalization, thematic mapping, and the coordinated scale system of Switzerland’s modern national map series, while also helping to establish and serving as the first president of the International Cartographic Association. His culminating achievement, the Atlas of Switzerland, brought together approximately 400 thematic maps, numerous graphics, and concise explanatory texts, demonstrating both scholarly rigor and visual mastery. The address concludes that Imhof helped establish the foundations of modern Swiss cartography; his educational commitment, international influence, and sustained advocacy of cartographic quality and aesthetics fully justify the honor bestowed upon him.