Dr. Wolfgang Engel, a fine geologist with a science career that was laid at the University of Göttingen in Germany, died on May 5, 2006, after a hard and very brave struggle with cancer. From his research career, Wolfgang Engel turned directions to become one of the few highly trained masterminds in the global science publishing scene.

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Situated in Heidelberg, Germany, Dr. Engel was the head behind the broad Earth Science programme of Springer Verlag. Whom did he not know, meet and talk to in the Earth Science community? On the leading edge of geosciences, there was little that remained unknown to him. Conference organizers around the globe saw him busy and engaged to keep up-to-date, to meet with the active community, and to extend his “antennas” towards upcoming topics. He has most successfully supervised and shaped the Springer Earth Science programme.

Wolfgang Engel was one of the very few scientists who could relate the importance of communication between all levels of society. He combined a truly talented geoscientific approach with the efficient business management of multiple scientific research programmes and projects simultaneously, bringing them together into quality products in published form. That talent will be sorely missed.

For us, remaining responsible for the editing and management of Environmental Geology, his death is a very bitter loss, because he was one of the founders masterminding our Journal and has over the years worked restlessly on the shaping of the present-day Journal. Until the very end of his working life he brought his splendid ideas into the ongoing process of improving our Journal. It is an achievement that Springer Verlag is certainly proud of and the publishing house can congratulate itself for such a fine long-time employee, as do his colleagues, and fellow scientists.

Wolfgang Engel was a true and honest friend who would encourage and criticize, who would patiently demand and generously extend his understanding. His curiosity and ability to see the relevant allowed him to discern it sharply from the lesser important and irrelevant.

Many of us enjoyed his hospitality and generosity, and many of us keep warm memories of great and extended conversations. We think of him and he will remain with us. We think of his wife Hella, their children Elisa and Felix, and of his admirable effort to fight the inevitable. We thank him for having been the person he was, for his humour and energy, for his advancing mind and spirit.

Philip E. LaMoreaux (Editor-in-Chief)

Gunter Dörhöfer (European Editor)

Jörg Matschullat (Editorial Board Member)