an expedition around Africa with the purpose of finding a suitable territory for a Lithuanian colony, which would serve as a semi-independent state for Lithuanians in case of a potential threat in their homeland. He visited almost all European countries. However, Pakštas focused on his scientific work as well: he determined the climatic zones of Lithuania and started doing systematic research on lakes. He distinguished himself as one of the most active founders of various public organizations. Since 1926 Pakštas was a member of the Lithuanian Catholic Academy of Science while in 1939 he was elected as an academic member. From 1930 to 1940, he was Commander-in-Chief of the Future Federation. In 1934, Pakštas organized the Society of Lithuanian Geographers and was its chairman until 1940. Pakštas also worked on building relations with countries abroad. From 1933 to 1939, he headed the Lithuanian–Swedish Society and from 1934 to 1939 he also served as vice-chairman for the Lithuanian–American Society; he belonged to the Lithuanian–French as well as Lithuanian–Swiss societies. He also participated in the establishment of the Political Club, the Lithuanian Western Union, the founding committee of the Lithuanian Catholic University, and the Romuva society. In 1938, some Lithuanian public figures such as Professors Stasys Šalkauskis and Steponas Kolupaila even urged him to become a presidential candidate for President of Lithuania. 1939–1960: Emigration to the US On May 31, 1939, Pakštas left Lithuania for a visit to the US. The Lithuanian interwar newspaper wrote: "Professor Pakštas and his wife took an evening train from Klaipėda to Gothenburg and went to America on a Swedish ship. In the station there were crowds of close ones, friends professors, and ateitininkai students to say their goodbyes. [...] Professor is going to the University of Los Angeles [University of California] where he will give lectures on political geography of Central Europe. He will stay in America until fall of 1940 and will visit Lithuanian colonies." However, following the occupation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union in 1940, it turned into exile. "The farewell was tearful because it seemed as though I will never see the majority of these great people ever again," Pakštas wrote. He became a lecturer and taught geography, geopolitics, and social sciences at different institutions, including the University of California (1939 to 1941), Carleton College (1943 to 1944), Duquesne University (1949 to 1954), University of Maryland (1955) and Steubenville College (1957). From