Announcements

Professor Henri-Charles Dubourguier was a top environmental scientist from France, who as a great friend of Estonia and the Estonian University of Life Sciences helped bring environmental sciences to a new level here. Colleagues from the Estonian University of Life Sciences remember him today on his 75th birthday.

Henri-Charles Dubourguier (06.02.1948-11.03. 2010) was an outstanding professor of the Estonian University of Life Sciences. Prof. Dubourguier was Scientific Director in INRA (French National Institute for Agricultural Research) of Lille in 1981-1988. He was Deputy Director of IAAL (Institut Agricole et Alimentaire de Lille) and Professor of microbiology in the University of Lille. From 1993 to 2008 he worked in the Institut Supérieur d’Agriculture of Lille as a professor of environmental sciences.

In 2004, he awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the Estonian University of Life Sciences. From 2006 until his death, he worked as a professor at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. In 2007 was formed the biogas laboratory what was leaded by Prof. Dubourguier. In 2008 Prof. H.C. Dubourguier moved to Estonia altogether and continued as a Professor in the EMU and a Leading Scientist in the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics (NICPB, Tallinn) in the group of Dr. Anne Kahru.

Prof Dubourguier was the main supervisor for 4 PHD students at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. Prof. Dubourguier with his day-to-day work has a significant role in increasing the visibility and competence in several essential scientific fields of the Estonian University of Life Sciences (environmental protection, renewable energy, sustainable development, internationalization of studies etc). Prof Dubourguier had a leading role in the initiation and participation of many international seminars, cooperation and research projects.

Even years later, prof. Dubourguier’s research achievements and scientific productivity reflects highly  in the statistics of the Estonian University of Life Sciences. Margit Heinlaan and Villem Aruoja, researchers at the KBFI Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, who obtained their PhDs at the Estonian University of Life sciences  under his supervision, have themselves already successfully supervised PhD students and published highly cited research articles.

The Great Frenchman (Suur Prantsalne)  was a Man as symphony orchestra. He could play first fiddle in a research group, doing so with perfection in a variety of scientific fields, wow students with his in-depth, sometimes seemingly inexhaustible knowledge, or be an engaging and maddening socialite as well as a pleasant partner in the conversation, sharing knowledge and recommendations.