Pieter Baas
Pieter Baas | |
|---|---|
 Baas in a 2005 portrait byCarla Rodenberg | |
| Born | 28 April 1944 Wieringermeer,Netherlands |
| Died | 29 April 2024(aged 80) |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Alma mater | Leiden University |
| Awards | Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences(2000) Linnean Medal(2003) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Botany,plantsystematics,wood anatomy |
| Institutions | Leiden University,National Herbarium of the Netherlands |
| Thesis | Comparative anatomy of Ilex, Nemopanthus, Sphenostemon, Phelline, and Oncotheca(1975) |
Pieter Baas(28 April 1944 – 29 April 2024) was a Dutchbotanistand an emeritus professor of plant systematics at theLeiden University,who served as director of theRijksherbariumof Leiden University between 1991 and 1999. When the institute was faced with budget cuts in 1993 he managed to preserve the collection by joining it with the university collections of Wageningen and Utrecht. This led to the founding of theNational Herbarium of the Netherlandsin 1999. Baas subsequently became director of the institute and served until 2005. As a botanist, Baas specialised inwood anatomy,and was an elected fellow ofthe International Academy of Wood Science.
Early life and career
[edit]Baas was born on 28 April 1944 in the municipality ofWieringermeer.[1]He attended theMULOand later theHBS.[2]
Baas grew up with a broad interest in science. At age 17, while harvesting potatoes he saw aNatterjack toadcrossing a path, appreciated the beauty of nature and decided to study natural history after earlier having contemplated studying history.[2][3]
In 1962 Baas started studying biology atLeiden University.[3]In his first year of biology Baas hated plant systematics as he hardly knew any plants or animals. He preferred plant anatomy and physiology.[2]While studying he was offered a job at theRijksherbarium,the herbarium of Leiden University, by its directorCornelis Gijsbert Gerrit Jan van Steenis.Baas rejected the offer, having no interest in working in a herbarium.[3]For his final year of studying Baas wished to stay at theRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew.Van Steenis agreed to this if Baas took up a course of systematics.[2]Between 1968 and 1969 Baas studied at the Jodrell Laboratory of the Royal Botanic Gardens under ProfessorCharles Russell Metcalfe.[4][5]On his return from the United Kingdom Baas approached Van Steenis and asked to be employed as a wood anatomy expert.[3]In 1969 Baas became an employee of the Rijksherbarium.[3][6]
In 1975 Baas earned his PhD in wood anatomy, with a thesis entitled:Comparative anatomy of Ilex, Nemopanthus, Sphenostemon, Phelline, and Oncotheca.[1][6]In 1987 he became professor (Bijzonder hoogleraar,paid from non-university funds) of plant systematics at Leiden University. In 1989 he was chairman of the organizing committee for the firstFlora Malesiana Symposium.In 1991 he became a regular professor, succeedingCornelis Kalkman.[1][3][5]
National Herbarium of the Netherlands
[edit]In 1991 Baas became scientific-director of the Rijksherbarium.[6]Baas was pressured to take over the position from Cornelis Kalkman. Although content as a researcher and not very interested in directing and managing, Baas took up the position of director out of a sense of duty.[3]
Two years after starting as director, the Rijksherbarium was faced with a plan of the dean of the University Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences to slash the budget by half, which would have forced Baas to fire all scientific staff.[2]Baas informed QueenBeatrix of the Netherlandsof the plan. Beatrix discussed the matter with the Minister of Education, Culture & Sciences,Jo Ritzen.[3]Ritzen preferred to see the pieces of the collection returned to their countries of origin.[2]A six-year struggle ensued, after which the Ministry set aside money for broad-value biological collections. Baas called this "his finest moment".[3]
The university board and theRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciencesaided Baas in his wish to see the collection preserved and a special fund was established.[2]In 1999 theNational Herbarium of the Netherlandswas formed from the collections of the herbariums of the universities of Leiden,Utrecht UniversityandWageningen.[6]Ritzen subsequently denied the influence of Beatrix in the matter while Baas was convinced that Beatrix helped with the formation of the institute.[7]Baas became director of the newly formed National Herbarium.[6]
During his term as director, Baas managed to improve digitalization efforts and nature conservancy projects at the institute.[3]Furthermore, a start atDNA sequencingthe collection was made. The National Herbarium also joined forces with theNaturalis Biodiversity Center,theZoological Museum Amsterdam,and theCentraalbureau voor Schimmelculturesto become a biodiversity research centre.[2]
Baas retired as professor in April and as director in September 2005, and was succeeded by Erik Smets.[1][2][5]Until age 65, he maintained azero-hour contractat the institute, and then returned to his research on wood anatomy.[3]As of 2013 he was still active as professor emeritus and honorary staff member at theNaturalis Biodiversity Center,the successor institute to the National Herbarium of the Netherlands.[4]
Research
[edit]Baas's principal research was in the evolution of anatomical diversity in wood and in the significance of tree biology as it relates to global environmental change. He was also interested in plant anatomy, both systematic and phylogenetic, wood culture, biodiversity, biohistory, conservation, as well as in microscopic wood identification. He studied the role of botanical gardens in education and research.[4]
As of 1976 Baas was Editor-in-Chief of theInternational Association of Wood Anatomists Journal.[4]As an expert on wood anatomy, Baas was at times asked to be a scientific expert on police investigations regarding wooden weapons or tools.[8]
Awards, honours and personal life
[edit]In 1987 Baas became a corresponding member of theBotanical Society of America[9]and a member of theRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciencesin 2000.[10]He was an elected fellow ofThe International Academy of Wood Science.[11]In 2003 he won theLinnean Medalof theLinnean Society of London.[12]Baas became a Knight in theOrder of the Netherlands Lionin 2005.[13]Ilex baasiiandBaasoxylonare named after him.[5]
While in Sri Lanka in 2004, Baas survived theIndian Ocean tsunami.[2]He died on 29 April 2024, at the age of 80.[14]
References
[edit]- ^abcd"Pieter Baas"(in Dutch). Leiden University.Retrieved1 December2015.
- ^abcdefghijMarian Tjaden (20 May 2005)."'Ik had enorm de pest aan systematiek'"(in Dutch). Bionieuws.Retrieved30 November2015.
- ^abcdefghijkChristiaan Weijts (6 October 2005)."Pieter Baas neemt afscheid als directeur van het Herbarium"(in Dutch). Mareonline.Retrieved30 November2015.
- ^abcd"The Academy Lecture – The Evolution of Wood Anatomical Diversity and its Significance".International Academy of Wood Science.Retrieved1 December2015.
- ^abcdRoos, Marco (14 December 2005). "Pieter Baas Retires".Blumea - Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants.50(3). Naturalis Biodiversity Center: 413–424.doi:10.3767/000651905x622662.ISSN0006-5196.
- ^abcde"Baas directeur Nationaal Herbarium"(in Dutch). Wageningen University and Research Centre. 7 January 1999.Retrieved25 November2015.
- ^"KRO Brandpunt Reporter"(in Dutch). Beeld en Geluid. 22 March 2009.Retrieved30 November2015.
- ^"Wat heb je aan gedroogde planten?"(in Dutch). Museum Boerhaave. 17 January 2010.Retrieved30 November2015.
- ^"Corresponding members".Botanical Society of America.Retrieved25 November2015.
- ^"Pieter Baas".Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.Retrieved25 November2015.
- ^"Fellows".The International Academy of Wood Science. Archived fromthe originalon 25 December 2022.
- ^"The Linnean Medal".The Linnean Society of London. Archived fromthe originalon 27 May 2015.Retrieved25 November2015.
- ^"Hall of fame 2005; bijzondere prijzen en onderscheidingen"(in Dutch). Leiden University. 24 March 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 19 September 2015.Retrieved1 December2015.
- ^"Professor Dr. Pieter Baas death notice".Retrieved1 May2024.
- ^International Plant Names Index.Baas.
