Werner Eugster

Werner Eugster was a renowned expert in micrometeorology and a sought-after fog researcher. As a group leader and lecturer, reviewer, editor, co-author, but also as colleague and friend, Werner will be dearly missed. He was 58 years old at the time of his passing.

Werner Eugster studied geography at the University of Bern and earned his doctorate in micrometeorology in 1994. After completing postdoctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley and at the University of Bayreuth, he did his habilitation at the University of Bern in 2003. From October 2003, he worked at ETH Zurich in the Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS), where he led the Micrometeorology working group at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences. In 2015, the ETH Board awarded him the title of professor.

An innovative pioneer

Werner Eugster was a pioneer in micrometeorology, particularly in the study of trace gas exchange between the biosphere and the atmosphere. His work in Alaska and Switzerland inspired many generations of scientists. His innovative work was often linked to land use issues, combining different research approaches such as phenology and tree physiology with the exchange of trace gases. Werner's second scientific field was fog research: in recent years, he increasingly shed light on its biological aspects and used stable isotope analyses to investigate the origin, formation and fate of fog and dew.

A passion for education and communication

Extremely skilled, humorous, and always helpful to his students, Werner was a highly successful teacher. In the lectures, excursions and practical exercises, problem solving was particularly close to his heart. His extraordinary dedication was coupled with extensive knowledge, which led to numerous domestic and international contacts and collaborations. Regardless of whether they were technicians, doctoral students or postdocs: Werner always had an open ear for their concerns, and often gave advice that led further. Werner was also always keen to share the results of his research with a broad public. He "saved" numerous manuscripts for the scientific community. Another example is his involvement in the Swiss Academy of Sciences, whose Geosciences Platform he chaired between 2014 and 2020, and his regular interviews during the Zurich fog time.

A personal farewell

Werner Eugster battled with cancer for a long time and communicated this very openly. For doing so, he was given a lot of respect: Science as therapy. "He died knowing how much we appreciated him," writes Nina Buchmann, Professor of Grassland Sciences and a colleague of Werner’s for many years. Shortly before his death, she presented him a little book containing the last thoughts of his closest colleagues. He smiled and gave a thumbs up. "He knew what we thought of his personal and scientific legacy. I feel privileged to have been a close colleague and friend of Werner’s."

Werner was an inspiring colleague, very creative and always open to new ideas. Members of ETH Zurich, his staff and students and his colleagues will remember him with great fondness.