Advances in geochemistry during the last four decades: A personal perspective

This is the author’s speech at the meeting in Cologne (2007) to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the International Association of Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, which the author served as the President in 2000 to 2004. The paper narrates the author’s personal involvement in important scientific programs during the last 4 decades, including implementation of isotope techniques, oil-and-gas research, diamond research, deep-sea drilling, space research, molecular biology and the origin of life.