Background
Martin was born on October 12, 1933, in Gilgenau, E.Prussia, Germany. Son of Arthur Kurt and Gertrud Emilie (Dembeck) Guntau.
Martin was born on October 12, 1933, in Gilgenau, E.Prussia, Germany. Son of Arthur Kurt and Gertrud Emilie (Dembeck) Guntau.
Master of Science in Mineralogy, Mining Academy, Freiberg, Germany, 1958. Doctor of Philosophy, Humboldt University, Berlin, 1964. Dr.sc.phil., Humboldt University, Berlin, 1977.
Tutor in mineralogy Mining Academy, Freiberg, 1958-1961, curator mineralogy, 1964-1973, assistant professor history of science, 1973-1976. Research fellow history, philosophy Humboldt University, Berlin, 1961-1964. Associate professor history of science University Rostock, Germany, 1976-1981, full professor Germany, 1981-1992.
Retired, head history of science group Germany, 1976-1992, director department history Germany, 1986-1989. Director Mineralogical Museum, Mining Academy, 1965-1970.
Author: Der Aktualismus in den Geologischen Wissenschaften, 1967, Die Genesis der Geologie als Wissenschaft, 1984. Editor: Der Ursprung der modernen Wissenschaften, 1987, Geschichte der Wissenschaften in Lateinamerika, 1992, Mecklenburger im Ausland, 2001. Founder, editor: (series) Rostocker Wissenschaftshistorische Manuskripte, Nos. 1-21, 1978-1992.
Chairman Working Group on the History of Geological Sciences, Berlin, 1976-1983. Secretary-general International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 1976-1984, president, Rostock, 1989-1992. Member Society on Geophysical Society (Berlin, board directors 1966-1984, A.G. Werner medal 1980), Ernst-Alban Society on the History of Science and Technology (chairman 1993-1998, honorary member), History of Earth Science Society (councilor 1993-1994).
Married Brigitte Kaethe Reh, September 2, 1961. Children: Matthias, Dorothea.