Peter Fabian, the first EGU President, passed away on 11 March at the age of 76.

Fabian, one of EGU’s founding fathers, served the geosciences through a great variety of positions. As the president of the European Geophysical Society, he succeed in merging this organisation with the European Union of Geosciences to create the European Geosciences Union in Munich in 2002. He served as the president of the EGU until 2005, and then as vice-president from 2005 to 2006. Most recently, he was involved in the organisation of EGU Alexander von Humbolt International Conferences.

Fabian was an expert in atmospheric sciences who earned international recognition for his pioneering measurements of the vertical distribution of halocarbons in the middle atmosphere. He also contributed to investigations on the impact of aviation on the atmosphere and established research on phenology, a powerful tool for probing the effect of global warming on vegetation. At the time of his passing, he was a Professor Emeritus for Bioclimatology and Emissions Research at the Technical University of Munich.

His presence in the Union, atmospheric science circles, and the wider scientific community will be profoundly felt.

Update (17/03/2014): comment from Roland Schlich, EGU Treasurer

“A mon ami Peter Fabian

I came to know Peter Fabian at the time a few of us decided to promote the merging of two well established European scientific organisations: the European Geophysical Society (EGS) and the European Union of Geosciences (EUG). Peter Fabian belongs to the group of visionary scientists who really were convinced that such a merging would result in Europe’s premier geosciences union. As a member of the former EUG Executive and of the EGU board, I am extremely indebted to Peter for his contribution to this unique and successful adventure.”