Max Ringelmann

Maximilien Ringelmann (10 December 1861, Paris – 2 May 1931, Paris) was a French professor of agricultural engineering and agronomic engineer who was involved in the scientific testing and development of agricultural machinery. Ringelmann's interests were wide-ranging: he developed the Ringelmann scale which is still used to measure smoke. He also discovered the Ringelmann effect in social psychology, viz, that when working in groups, individuals slacken. Education After graduating from the public schools of Paris, Ringelmann studied at the Institute National Agronomique (National Institute of Agronomy), where he was an outstanding student. He also attended Hervé Mangon’s evening course in rural engineering at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts). (Charles-François Hervé Mangon (1821–1888) had been trained as a civil engineer, but his interest shifted to agriculture, where he studied irrigation, drainage, fertilizers, etc.) Ringelmann also attended courses at the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (National School of Bridges and Roads), a civil engineering school. Career Starting in 1881, Ringelmann tutored the course in rural engineering at the École Nationale d’Agriculture (National School of Agriculture) in Grand Jouan, Nozay, France. By 1883, he was contributing a weekly column to the Journal d’Agriculture Pratique (Journal of Practical Agriculture).