It is with sadness that we  share the news of the passing of ASSAf Member, Prof Maarten de Wit, NMU, on Tuesday night, 14 April 2020.

 He was the Chair of Earth Stewardship Science at NMU and Science Director of AEON (Africa Earth Observatory Network) and NMU’s transdisciplinary ESSRI (Earth Stewardship Science Research Institute). He helped to define the new trans-disciplinary field of research termed ‘Earth Stewardship Science’ or ‘Iphakade’ ─ ‘observe the present and consider the past to ponder the future’ – to holistically tackle problems affecting the planet, its commons (shared resources) and people.  

Prof de Wit was one of the panel members who undertook ASSAf’s consensus report titled ‘South Africa’s Technical Readiness to Support the Shale Gas Industry’ under the chairmanship of Prof Cyril O’Connor.

Prof De Wit was a key player on the panel which undertook ASSAf’s consensus report titled ‘South Africa’s Technical Readiness to Support the Shale Gas Industry’ under the chairmanship of Prof Cyril O’Connor. 

The UK Geological Society, of which Prof De Wit was an honorary Fellow, has this to say: 

Maarten de Wit is one of Africa’s most distinguished earth scientists whose research interests span geodynamics, tectonics and stratigraphy, early earth processes and the evolution of the Gondwana supercontinent. Despite his European birth, he has become an ambassador for the entire continent. 

We extend our sincere condolences to Prof De Wit’s family, friends and colleagues.