[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXII, Issue 46

[Newsletter Editor]

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1. Arne K. Richter: 1941-2015
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1. Arne K. Richter: 1941-2015
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From: Vytenis Vasyliunas <vasyliunas at mps.mpg.de>

Arne K. Richter, scientific staff member at the Max Planck Institute for
Aeronomy (now Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research) and an
outstanding leader in the development of European scientific organizations
in geophysics and space physics, died August 2, 2015 in Goettingen,
Germany after a long illness.

Born May 28, 1941 in Dresden, Germany, Arne studied physics at the
University of Hamburg, receiving his diploma in 1970, and then worked at
the Institute for Pure and Applied Nuclear Physics, University of Kiel,
earning his doctorate in 1975 (with a thesis on wave trains in the solar
wind). From 1975 until retirement in 2006 he was scientific staff member
at the Max Planck Institute (then in Katlenburg-Lindau), active both in
theory and in analysis of data from plasma and energetic particle
experiments in space missions (Helios 1 and 2, Giotto, Phobos 2, and
others).  Arne published a series of important papers on shocks, waves,
and discontinuities in the solar wind (including a major review on
shocks) and on related topics in cosmic rays as well as planetary and
cometary environments.

Beginning in the late 1980's, Arne devoted more and more effort to 
international organizational aspects. Inspired and guided by Ian Axford,
who was greatly concerned about the then low stature of the European
Geophysical Society (with at most some hundreds of attendees at its
annual meeting),  Arne became secretary general and executive secretary
of EGS in 1988 and held that post until EGS was formally disolved in
2003, after it had merged in 2001 with the European Union of Geosciences
to form the present European Geosciences Union (EGU). Arne played a key
role in that merger and was executive secretary of EGU from 2002 until
2009. It is in no small measure thanks to the structural reforms carried
out by Arne that EGU now attracts well over 10,000 attendees at its
general assemblies, arguably second only to the AGU. In recognition of
his contributions, Arne was honored with the EGU Diamond Service Award
in 2010, and in recognition of his services in encouraging and
supporting young scientists, the EGU Outstanding Young Scientist Award
was renamed in 2011 the Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Young
Scientists.

A milestone in the organizational development was the founding of the
Copernicus Society for the Promotion of International Collaboration in
the Geo- and Space Sciences (Copernicus Gesellschaft e.V.) in 1988
under the leadership of Ian Axford. One of its seven founding members,
Arne was in effect the moving spirit, holding key posts in the Society
almost until his death and contributing many of the ideas which
transformed the Society into what it is today: the parent company of
Copernicus GmbH, a leading organizer of scientific conferences and
innovative publisher of open-access journals (see www.copernicus.org).

Arne Richter has left deep imprints in the scientific landscape. We
will miss his deep insights, his enthusiasm, and his sense of humor.
R.I.P.


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