The GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences mourns the loss of its former Administrative Executive Director, Dr Bernhard Raiser, who passed away on 28 December 2023 at the age of 77. After completing his doctorate in Hamburg in 1987 and holding several professional positions in the German scientific landscape, the experienced lawyer took over as Administrative Director of the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences Potsdam in 1992. Like Professor Dr Rolf Emmermann for the scientific area, he was one of the two founding directors of the GFZ. Together they were responsible for the development of the centre, which emerged from the Central Institute for Physics of the Earth in the GDR. Until the end of 1994, Bernhard Raiser was also Administrative Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), which was also founded in 1992. He was also involved in the Association for the Promotion of a German Research Network (DFN) from 1993 – initially on the Administrative Board and from 1995 to 2002 as a member of the Board of the DFN Association.

With his extensive administrative experience, Bernhard Raiser succeeded in establishing an efficient GFZ administration and thus made a significant contribution to establishing the GFZ as an internationally-recognised research institution. He was not only a board member, but furthermore, he always showed his human side. As a provider of ideas, he challenged and encouraged his colleagues and at the same time inspired them. In this way, he succeeded in creating a positive working environment characterised by motivation. When he retired in 2011, he left behind an excellently organised GFZ.

Dr Stefan Schwartze, the current Administrative Executive Director of the GFZ and Bernhard Raiser's successor in office, also acknowledges this: “I remember many encounters with Mr Raiser and benefited a great deal from his experience even before I came to the GFZ. Above all, I am grateful to him for his good hand in the selection of staff. It is thanks to Bernhard Raiser for the great team he passed on to me at the GFZ, a team with whom it has been easy and fulfilling to manage the GFZ administratively even in difficult times. The same still holds up to this very day.”

The colleagues at the GFZ are grateful for Bernhard Raiser's work at the GFZ and he is fondly remembered by all who knew him. Our deepest sympathy goes to his family and friends.