Milton Santos (1926 - 2001)

Dr. Santos was the father of critical geography in Brazil, and is known for his pioneering works in urban development in developing countries. Santos received the Vautrin Lud Prize, often described as geography’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Santos taught high school geography and math to finance his way through law school. After deciding not to practice law, he taught high school geography, and worked as a journalist before studying in Europe, the Americas, and Africa – completing his PhD under Jean Tricart. Santos was exiled from Brazil for a 13-year period, during which he wrote more than forty books, all told, in several languages. It was during exile that Santos developed the Urban Development in developing countries from a geographical perspective. In 2018, Dr. Santos’ life and achievements were commemorated with a Google Doodle.