Olavi Erämetsä, originally born as Kurt Heikki Olavi Enwald, was a distinguished Finnish chemist known for his pioneering work in the field of analytical chemistry and inorganic chemistry. He held the position of a lecturer in analytical chemistry from 1940 to 1946 before being appointed as a professor of inorganic chemistry at the Helsinki University of Technology (TKK) from 1947 to 1973. Erämetsä's significant contributions include his groundbreaking research on rare earths and trace elements, particularly his noteworthy isolation of the element promethium from natural sources in 1965. He also extensively studied the presence of trace elements, such as rare earths, in various environmental elements including soils, plants, and the human body, aiming to gather epidemiological evidence about environmental factors and their potential effects on human health. Furthermore, Erämetsä was actively involved in several prestigious scientific organizations, serving as the Chairman of the Finnish Chemistry Society and being a Founding Member of the Finnish Academy of Engineering and a Member of the Finnish Academy of Sciences. His remarkable achievements and dedication to the field of chemistry have left a lasting impact on the scientific community, solidifying his legacy as a pioneering figure in analytical and inorganic chemistry.