Professor Uwe Harlander was a respected scientist in fluid mechanics and geophysical fluid dynamics, a devoted teacher, a generous mentor, and a beloved father and husband. Over the course of his career, he contributed deeply to the study of atmospheric physics, theoretical meteorology, and geophysical fluid dynamics, while also shaping the lives of many students, colleagues, and collaborators through his guidance, kindness, and example.
He studied atmospheric physics at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, where he earned his master’s degree in August 1990. He remained at LMU for his doctoral work from 1990 to 1994 and received his doctoral degree in June 1994, before continuing there as a postdoctoral researcher from 1994 to 1995. From 1995 to 2001, he served as Assistant Professor for theoretical meteorology at the University of Leipzig, where he completed his habilitation in November 2002.
His research career also took him to the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), where he was a Marie Curie Fellow from 2001 to 2003 and a postdoctoral researcher from 2003 to 2007. From 2007 onward, he served as Associate Professor and head of Experimental and Theoretical Geophysical Fluid Dynamics in the Department of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. In October 2014, he was a visiting Professor at École Centrale Marseille.
Uwe Harlander was known not only for his scientific insight, but also for the care and generosity he brought to his work and to the people around him. He was a caring person and a generous scientist, driven by a genuine desire to understand the world more deeply. His curiosity, seriousness of purpose, and openness to others left a lasting impression on all who worked with him.
We warmly invite colleagues, collaborators, students, and friends to share their memories and reflections in honor of Uwe Harlander.