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Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics

In Memoriam Pim Jungerius

7 December 2023

Pim Jungerius passed away suddenly on the 27th of November 2023 at his home in Bennekom at an age of 90 years. He was emeritus professor in Physical Geography, Climatology and Cartography at the University of Amsterdam and retired in 1998. We remember Pim for his strong and warm personality and enthusiasm for his field of research, and energy during his many activities. He played an important role in the foundation of IBED, and he was always particularly committed to the interests of young staff, both directly around him and more broadly in the institute.

Pim started as a first year Physical Geography student in 1951 in Amsterdam and was very interested in geomorphological processes and soils. He obtained his PhD in 1959 at the University of Amsterdam, under the supervision of Prof. J.P. Bakker on the topic “Zur Verwitterung, Bodenbildung und Morphologie der Keuper-Liaslandschaft bei Moutfort in Luxembourg".

Pim became full professor in Amsterdam in 1970. In his research Pim made connections between geomorphology, soil science, human geography, and indigenous knowledge. He contributed significantly to eolian process and landscape development research especially in the Dutch but also in the European coastal and inland dunes. He was one of the initiators of re-activating aeolian processes in the Dutch dunes and worked on natural coastal dynamics. He also worked on the formation of cuesta landscapes in Africa and Europe. Pim was a pioneer in research on landscape dynamics and process geomorphology. The work he initiated on the interaction between soil macrofauna, vegetation and geomorphology has inspired many. As such he also linked landscape processes to soils and human interaction.

He was for a long period editor of the journals Catena and Earth Surface Processes. This brought him in close contact with other dynamic and leading scholars in soil science and process geomorphology.

Over the years, Pim educated countless students in Physical Geography and supervised many PhD students. He was elected as member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences in 1987. After his retirement he was strongly involved in the development of legal protection of geological and geomorphological heritage and remained active until close to his death.

For his achievements Pim received the first Lulofs medal and was honorary member of Lulofs, the alumni association of the Physical Geographers at the University of Amsterdam.

From all landscapes, the blue fading of the mid-mountain ranges moved his heart most.

With Pim Jungerius we lose a very dedicated and engaged physical geographer in the widest sense of the word, and a great inspirator. Our thoughts are with his family.