Italian physicians' contribution to geosciences

Many with medical training led to the founding of a National Geology Society and these included Bernardino Ramazzini, Antonio Vallisneri, Tommaso Antonio Catullo, Carlo Gemellaro, Leopoldo Pilla, Giuseppe Meneghini, Gaetano Giorgio Gemellaro and Arcangelo Sacchi. Italian physicians have been interested in Geology since the 15th century or earlier. The physicians Girolamo Fracastoro and Girolamo Cardano. Took a humanistic approach. In the ensuing centuries medical academics included Bernardo Ramazzini and Nicholas Steno who applied the Galilean scientific method to medicine and geology. Their contributions to Geology formed the basis of a national contribution to the unification of Italy in the nineteenth century were involved with the social and political changes during the first independence war. They also helped found a national geological society. Some earned a great European research reputation, for example Leopoldo Pilla and Giuseppe Meneghini who became Presidents of Italy.