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The following year, Alexander studied at the University of Gottingen. This was the most modern of Germany's universities, and boasted as faculty some of the most respected scholars of the day. Gottigen was the leading university for geography, Alexander's field; but his most important influence there came from Professor Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, a professor of medicine and zoology, founder of modern anthropology and a personal friend of Goethe. Blumenbach realized the value of travel research in the natural sciences, and gave his students may opportunities to participate in scientific expeditions. It was during his studies at Gottingen that Alexander undertook his journey alone.
From observations taken near Gottingen, Unkel and Linz-on-Rhein, Alexander wrote a book, entitled Mineralogische Beobachtungen ueber einige Basalte am Rhein; which not only discussed the origin of basalt but the comparison of flora on various soil substrates. Such "universal research" was typical of Alexander's style-- not remaining confined to one discipline, and striving for the big picture.
Alexander then attended the Busch Academy in Hamburg, a commercial college of excellent repute throughout Germany, where he studied geology and Spanish. I was around this time, in 1791, that Alexander pondered his future career. Mining administration was a distinguished course of study; and appeased not only his mother's desire to have her son employed in civil service, but Alexander's desire for practical application of his mineralogical and geologic studies as well. Alexander's decision to pursue mining administration led him to the mining academy in Freiburg, where he received instruction in the only field that ever interested him as a career.