DANE BICANIC 1943 – 2018
Dane Bicanic was born on 13th March 1943 in Zagreb, Croatia, where he finished university studies with a BSc degree in Physics. Following Masters’ studies in the USA, in 1971 he moved to the Netherlands, where in 1978 he earned a doctoral degree from the Catholic University in Nijmegen. With the Dissertation “Generation of frequency tuneable sidebands in the THz region” he was the first to push the limits of laser spectroscopy into the region of THz frequencies. Since 1980 he served as professor of physics at the University of Wageningen (at present Wageningen University and Research Centre). As visiting scientist he worked at renowned institutes such as International Centre of Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy, the European Laboratory for Nonlinear Optics in Florence, Italy, and in ETH in Zürich, Switzerland. He was also a visiting professor at the University of Zagreb.
Since 1985 Dane Bicanic dedicated most of his research efforts to the development of optothermal spectroscopic techniques, photoacoustic spectroscopy in particular. He made notable contribution to photoacoustic and photothermal science by organizing the ITMPPP07 International Topical Meeting on Photoacoustic and Photothermal Phenomena in Doorwerth, The Netherlands, in 1991, and by numerous applications of photothermal techniques in agriculture, environmental science and food quality and safety, which are registered in almost 400 scientific and professional papers, books and book chapters, invited lectures and presentations at international conferences. He will be remembered for his contribution to the development of IMPASS-Intermodulated photoacoustic Stark spectroscopy and for the always open doors of his laboratory, where many young scientists have found the opportunity to enter the secrets of photoacoustic and photothermal science, and to experience his enormous enthusiasm, positive energy and good spirit, which inspired us all.
For his exceptional approach and performance in teaching, and for capability and success in motivating students, he was nominated the “2008 Techer of the year”, by the University of Wagenigen. In 2012 Dane Bicanic was awarded the title “Honorary member of the University of Nova Gorica”, Nova Gorica, Slovenia, for scientific excellence and outstanding contribution to the development of photothermal and photoacoustic spectroscopy.
After complications of Parkinson’s disease, from which he suffered in his last years, Dane Bicanic passed away on February 11th 2018 and found his last resting place in Nijmegen.