Jorge Broderman Vignier

Civil Engineer, Architect and Researcher of Cuban mining and geology. He studied at the School of
Arts and Trades where he graduated as a Civil Constructor in 1905. Six years later, on January 13, 1911,
he obtained the title of Civil Engineer, and on February 5, 1913, that of Architect, from the University of Havana.

He was the author of more than fifty works related to topics within his professional disciplines,
highlighting those related to the possible existence of petroleum in the northern area of Havana
and Madruga.

He began his professional career on July 22, 1910, as an Assistant Engineer of the Ministry of Public Works
of the Oriental District, and the following year he performed similar functions in the Las Villas District. In 1914 he was
transferred, within the same Ministry, to the Division of River and Port Improvements of Public Works in Havana, and on
August 27, 1918 he was appointed by Presidential Decree as a 3rd Class Engineer of the General
Direction of the Secretary of Public Works.

Years later, by a similar Decree of July 18, 1938, he was appointed as Chief of 1st Class,
charged by the Secretary of Public Works with dredging work in the Port of Isabela de Sagua.

In November of that same year, the Forestry and Mines Division of the Ministry of Agriculture appointed him Chief
Engineer of the Commission for the Geological Map of Cuba, in which work a group of scientists participated, among whom
was fellow geologist Pedro J. Bermúdez, and as a result a successful research work was achieved, of great
utility for the knowledge of hydraulic basins and mining zones, in addition
to a relevant national cartographic study that was awarded a Gold Medal and Diploma, granted by the
Geographic Society of Cuba on March 30, 1948.

During this period, he conducted studies of the Aqueduct of the city of Pinar del Río, starting in November 1943, his
effective assistance in the dam placement projects on the Yara River was recognized, in 1944, he received that same
year a commendation from the Ministry of Agriculture for his report titled: Asphaltic Deposits of Cuba, and after authorization
received in April 1945, he served as Chief of the Geology Section of the National Institute of Hydrology
and Medical Climatology, of the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance. In January 1948, this same Ministry
accredited him as a member of its National Commission for atomic energy for civilian uses.

As early as January 2, 1918 he had been elected President of the College of Architects of Havana, and beginning
November 8, 1946 he served with the same responsibility in the Cuban Society of Engineers; he was a member of the Academy
of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Havana, starting June 1,
1951, when he delivered his inaugural address under the title: General Considerations Regarding Our
Geological Structures with Oil Possibilities. Similarly, he was a Full Member of the Cuban Society
of Natural History "Felipe Poey", starting December 12, 1938, as well as a Member of the
Micropaleontological Society of the American Museum of Natural History, and of other national and
foreign scientific societies.

In May 1940 he participated in the VIII American Scientific Congress, held in Washington, and in June of
that same year, in the Second Interamerican Meeting of the Caribbean, which took place in Santo Domingo. He received the
award "Engineer J. Primelles", for his work titled: Brief Geological Overview of the Island of Cuba, as well as the
award "President F. Gastón" for his significant Memoir: Geological Determination of the Vento Basin.
He lectured at the Academy of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Havana and at the
University of Havana, among other scientific institutions.