Mourning for Rudolf Bock
19.04.2024 |
The employees of the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung mourn the death of
Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Rudolf Bock
* 21.5.1927 † 9.4.2024
who passed away at the age of 96 after a rich and fulfilling life.
Prof. Bock was one of the founding fathers of GSI in 1969. Until his retirement in 1995, he was a member of the Scientific Directorate of GSI and in this function played a decisive role in shaping the scientific profile of GSI. As GSI division head, he pursued the research focus Heavy Ion Reactions" at intermediate and relativistic energies with experiments at the GSI accelerators, at the Berkeley Bevalac and at CERN. In the 1980s, he was one of the initiators and pioneers of the heavy ion program at ultra-relativistic energies at CERN. In addition to his commitment to basic research in nuclear physics, Prof. Bock initiated and shaped the application-oriented GSI research program on inertial confinement fusion and plasma physics at high densities. As part of his scientific activities, Prof. Bock established numerous new research collaborations with institutes in Germany and abroad and contributed significantly to the internationalization of GSI research. As a war veteran himself, the idea of international understanding and peacekeeping was an important concern for him. Prof. Bock has received numerous awards at home and abroad for his scientific achievements and services to the promotion of international cooperation.
In his long and successful life as a researcher, Prof. Bock laid the foundations for the scientific work and careers of numerous subsequent researchers.
He was regularly present at GSI until his late years and took great interest in current research topics and developments on campus. His advice and foresight will be missed in the future.
With deep gratitude and respect, GSI says farewell to its founding father Rudolf Bock. Our deepest sympathy is extended to his family. (JL)
Slides from the lecture given by Prof. Dr. Hans J. Specht (University of Heidelberg) in 2017 on the occasion of Rudolf Bock's 90th birthday:
