Dr Ingeborg Maaß

Abstract

With sadness, we announce the death of our long-standing colleague and mentor Dr Ingeborg Maaß. She passed away on 19 December 2021 in her 95th year of life. After graduating in chemistry, Ingeborg Maaß started to work in a newly founded research group dealing with stable isotopes in Leipzig in 1956. Justus Mühlenpfordt, the founder of our isotope journal and former German nuclear researcher, launched a stable isotope research centre under the umbrella of the German Academy of Sciences, called Institute of Physical Tissue Separation, later Institute of Stable Isotopes. For many years, Dr Ingeborg Maaß successfully managed the working group ‘Sample chemistry’within the department ‘Application of stable isotopes’ of this institute. ‘Sample chemistry’ was a key group to transform complex chemical compounds into simple substances applicable for isotope analyses in that time before newer isotope analysis equipment could take over this work. Later on, Dr Maaß headed a new working group ‘Application of stable isotopes in geology’ dealing with studies on the formation of natural gas and oil, especially in relation to their source materials. At that time, such investigations were an essential contribution for oil and gas exploration in former East Germany. Therefore, much of her scientific work dealt with the investigation of isotope variations in different organic matter from both geological and biological origins. With strong commitment, she perfected coalification experiments using organic material of different sources and genesis from scores of core and coal samples [1,2]. Besides these main topics she was always interested in the application of isotope techniques to other scientific problems, e.g. in biology [3], physiology, and the environment [4]. She imparted her great experience and knowledge to students and young scientists to prepare their doctoral thesis. Her work enthusiasm was outstanding and a good example for her followers. After finishing her professional life, Ingeborg Maaß returned to her old home country Mecklenburg.