Remote Sensing Research Group
Members of RSRG and ZFL in front of the Department of Geography (July 2016)
Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel about the loss of our supervisor, mentor, "Jefe", colleague and friend
Prof. Dr. Gunter Menz
(+18.11.1956 ✝ 9.8.2016)
On 9 August, 2016 Prof. Dr. Gunter Menz passed away after an accident. Gunter Menz studied geography and mathematics in Freiburg, Germany. He received the PhD degree from the University of Freiburg in 1987 and qualified as professor in Bonn in 1993. He worked as professor at the universities of Mainz and Bonn. A time he was often talking about is his time as visiting scientist at the University of California in Santa Barbara, USA. In 1996, Gunter became professor for remote sensing at the University of Jena, Germany. Two years later, in 1998, he became professor at the University of Bonn where he led the Remote Sensing Research Group at the Department of Geography. Together with two colleagues he founded the interdisciplinary Center for Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces (ZFL) in 2001. From 2001 to 2010, Gunter was ZFL’s spokesman.
Africa, in particular East Africa, was always an affair of his heart. He often visited colleagues and friends in the region, raised funds for research projects in Africa, invited African scientists and was an open and committed host to many African students. Gunter was a passionate geographer with heart and soul, driven by curiosity, taking every opportunity to visit unique and remote places and broaden his horizon. He was always able to give helpful advice, thereby giving his students huge freedom to pursue own scientific interests. His calm and friendly nature shaped the lives and careers of so many graduates.
We will miss Gunter’s wisdom, his unconventional ideas, his inspiration. In mourning we are grateful for the time we could share with Gunter and keep him in mind as a close and respected teacher, mentor and friend.
Research focuses
The research priorities of the RSRG are in the field of applied remote sensing. We are currently working on projects and theses on the following main topics:
- Monitoring and modelling of land use and cover change
- Land degradation
- Food security
- Monitoring and mapping of wetlands
- Didactics of remote sensing
