Rudolf Sigl

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Rudolf Sigl (born March 16, 1928 in Munich ; † January 8, 1998 in Munich) was for a long time full professor and director of the Institute for Astronomical and Physical Geodesy at the Technical University of Munich and built up the satellite geodesy department in Germany.

Life

He began his higher education in the second education path and obtained his diploma in surveying at TUM in a very short time. After that, he was despite his young age by his mentor Max Kneissl entrusted with very important responsibilities and was already with 34 years a reputation in the newly created professorship for Astronomical and Physical Geodesy at the Munich Technical University . Despite some tempting offers to other research and university institutes , he remained on his Munich professorship until his retirement. This probably has a lot to do with the “ Collaborative Research Center (SFB) Satellite Geodesy”, which was in vigorous development until around 1990.

With this, Sigl made a significant contribution to the establishment of new areas within the geosciences - in particular to the establishment of the fundamental and satellite station Wettzell (near Viechtach , Bavarian Forest ) - an observatory for geodetic spatial methods - and, after the reunification of Germany, also the GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam . Among other things, the planning of Germany's first geoscientific satellite was advanced there (in some cases while Sigl was still active) . It was started as GFZ-1 in 2000 and has been measuring the earth's magnetic and gravitational fields with previously unimagined precision.

Sigl also recognized other possibilities of modern technology for geodesy early on . In association with the Institute for Applied Geodesy (IfAG) in Frankfurt , in close cooperation and supported by mentors who believed in him and this development, the very active Collaborative Research Center "Satellite Geodesy" was created. With him, a new geodetic discipline developed, which contributed to the good international reputation of German geodesy. The aforementioned Wettzell fundamental station is the experimental center and thus the heart of its research and development.

In addition to his work as a university lecturer and researcher , he was a member of various scientific committees at home and abroad, in 1965 and 1966 dean , referee, member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and the German Museum , head of the DGK and president of the IAG's "Continental Networks" commission .

In his publications and research, Rudolf Sigl saw himself as a mediator - between the traditional geodesy in which he grew up and its new branches, but also as a mediator between the high demands of science and the needs of students . He published four textbooks and over 250 individual papers , in addition to advising doctoral students and habilitations .

The various awards include the Levallois Medal from the IAG and three academy memberships: the mathematical and natural science class of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences, the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Academia Scientiarum et Artium Europaea . Furthermore, two honorary doctorates and the golden badge of honor from the Technical University of Munich. Rudolf Sigl's optimism and sense of duty helped him through life-threatening health problems for two decades . As emeritus he remained closely connected to the geodesy department and took part in its joys and needs. When he was almost 70 years old, he and his wife Elisabeth enjoyed music and hiking in the Bavarian mountains.

His successor in the specialist department is Reinhard Rummel .

See also

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Sigl, Rudolf
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German geodesist, professor and director of the Institute for Astronomical and Physical Geodesy at the Technical University of Munich
DATE OF BIRTH March 16, 1928
PLACE OF BIRTH Munich
DATE OF DEATH January 8, 1998
Place of death Munich