It is with much regret that I inform you of the death last year of Professor Goran Kniewald. He passed away suddenly after having fought off a period of longer-term illness with sustained medical treatment.
Goran was born in 1955 in the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia (now specifically Croatia). He completed his BSc degree in Geology in 1977, specializing in Mineralogy and Petrology. In 1981 he completed his Master’s and in 1991 his PhD in Geology. All of these degrees were conferred by the University of Zagreb. Goran started his academic career as a research scientist at the Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Division of Marine and Environmental Research in Zagreb in 1979. He retired as a full Professor, of Geochemistry and Environmental Science, and Head of the Laboratory at the same institute at the end of 2020.
Goran spoke six languages and held positions as visiting scholar at Universities in France, Germany, and the United States of America. He published more than 100 articles and book chapters and contributed numerous presentations at a variety of conferences. He also served as President of the Geochemistry Council of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts and was a member of eight professional societies. More recently he served as a member of the evaluation panel at the South African Military Academy.
An integral member of the International Association for Military Geosciences, he attended the past five international conferences and was always the life and soul of both the social and academic sessions. His laughter, dry sense of humour, and sharp mind will be sorely missed. A larger-than-life colleague, association members have reflected upon the many fond memories of a passionate scientist who delivered a number of thought-provoking papers linking environmental damage to conflicts around the world.
The Association’s best wishes go out to his family, friends and colleagues.