Obituary for Dr. Karol Karovič

This is to announce with greatest sadness in our hearts that our dear colleague, distinguished Slovak scientist in the field of measurement technology and optics, former director of the Institute of Measurement Science of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), and former vice president of the SAV, RNDr. Karol Karovič, Dr.Sc., passed away on December 16, 2020, at the age of 81.

The memorial service and funeral of Karol Karovič will take place on December 22, 2020, at 16:15 at Bratislava Crematorium.

 

Dr. Karovič spent most of the 52 years of his professional career, from 1961 until his retirement in 2013, at the Institute of Measurement Science. He started as engineer-assistant and soon became a Ph.D. student (formerly called Candidate of Sciences Aspirant). He became a research scientist at the institute upon successfully defending his CSc. Dissertation in 1964. In 1969, he was awarded a fellowship by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany. His research topic was investigation of uncertainties of measurements by use of photoelectric microscopes, which he carried out at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt in Braunschweig, Germany.

The major concentrations of Dr. Karovič’s research were theoretical and experimental aspects of photoelectric measurements of location and size of structures in micro-meteorology, development of optical interference methods, and application of statistical methods in the analysis of measurements. He authored and co-authored more than 95 scientific papers, and he was co-author of nine patents and copyright certificates. As a mentor and educator, he supervised seven Ph.D. students in the discipline of Measurement Technology. In 1986 he successfully defended his dissertation for the prestigious Dr.Sc. degree.

In addition to his scientific research, Dr. Karovič unavoidably was asked to take on management and administrative duties. From 1973 to 1990, he was the head of the Laboratory of Optics. From 1984 to 1990 he served as Scientific Secretary of the institute, and from 1990 until 1998 as Director of the institute. For two terms, during 1998-2005, he was Vice President of the SAV responsible for the 1st Section of Physical, Space, Earth, and Engineering Sciences. After finishing his term at the presidency of the SAV, he stayed at the institute as research scientist until his retirement in 2013, and thereafter as researcher-emeritus.

An outstanding scholar in his discipline, Dr. Karovič also had a broad grasp of knowledge in other areas. In particular, he found new approaches and solutions in the field of measurements of physical entities. He loved to help and mentor younger colleagues and played an effective role in the education of the next generation of researchers, both at the institute and in the broader scientific community.

Dr. Karovič received multiple awards recognizing his scientific achievements, including:

• Golden Plaque of the SAV of Aurel Stodola (1989) for achievements in technical disciplines
• Silver medal of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Comenius University (1989)
• Medal of Faculty of Electrotechnics and Informatics of the Slovak Technical University (2001) for contributions in development of research and pedagogy
• Platinum Medal of the Faculty of Machine Engineering of the Technical University in Košice (2002)
• Medal of the SAV for support of research (2005)
• J. A. Segner Prize for contributions to development of metrology (2005)
• Commemorative Medal on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the Metric Conference (2005)
• Plaque on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (2013)
• Commemorative Plaque of the Institute of Measurement Science for lifetime achievements in science and research (2019)

Dr. Karovič was a great colleague and good friend to many of us. He was well known for his precise, prudent and consistent approach to each new problem. His kindness and his warm sense of humor brightened the days of all his friends and colleagues. He will be missed forever.

RIP, Karol!

Karol Karovič

Beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam