Professor Jean-Pierre Contzen
Professor Jean-Pierre Contzen studied engineering and nuclear physics at the Université Libre de Bruxelles before working on reactor safety and advanced conversion systems at the Nuclear Research Centre of Mol.
He moved in 1964 to the European Launcher Development Organisation ELDO where he worked on future space vehicles' concepts and joined in 1969 the European Space Organisation ESRO where he developed the programmes for satellite applications. He started in 1974 a 25 years' association with the European Commission occupying successively the positions of Director of Programmes of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), Director for Science & Technology Policy, Director General of the JRC and Special Adviser of the Commissioner in charge of External Relations. During this period, he was also member of the Standing Committee of START (Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training) (1992-1997) and member of the Management Board of the European Environmental Agency (1993-1997). He became later Special Adviser to the Minister of Science & Technology of Portugal.
He was Chairman of the Institute of Advanced Studies of the United Nations University and Invited Chair Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon and at the Eurasian National University of Kazakhstan He also dealt with environmental issues through his chairmanship of the Board of Guardians of the Russian Scientific NIERSC Foundation (Nansen International Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre) in Sint-Petersburg and as member of the Scientific Committee of the Institut Royal pour la Gestion Durable des Ressources Naturelles et la Promotion des Technologies Propres (IRGT) in Brussels. He was also a member of the Committee of Applied Sciences of the Royal Belgian Academy.
He was since 1995 an active member of the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics Board of Directors and became its Chairman in 2005.
Last but not least, he was the beloved husband of Arlette Lacroix and father of Bernard, Baudouin, Christine and Thierry.
Professor Jean-Pierre Contzen, suddenly passed away on Tuesday, October 27, in Sint-Petersburg while on active duty as the Chairman of the NIERSC foundation. A great man passed away. His demise is a very severe loss for all of us. The direction and the personnel of the von Karman Institute address their deepest thoughts and sympathy to the members of his family.