In Memoriam: Ernest Maréchal

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AbstractIt is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Professor Ernest Maréchal on 9 January 2016, at the age of eighty-four. Between 1993 and 2008, Ernest Maréchal was deeply involved in the activities of the IUPAC Polymer Division (formerly the Macromolecular Division) and of the Subcommittee on Polymer Terminology, and has led or contributed to six IUPAC Recommendations, amongst others on chemically modified polymers and source-based nomenclature. Ernest Maréchal was a graduate of Ecole Normale Supérieure (Cachan, France), with a degree in Physics (Aggrégation). He received his Doctorate degree from the University of Paris in 1965, specializing in the chemistry of cationic polymerization and was immediately appointed full Professor at the University of Rouen. In 1976, he joined the University Pierre-et-Marie-Curie (UPMC, Paris), where he developed research studies on the mechanisms of cationic polymerizations and polycondensations and on the chemical modification of polymers, establishing close relationships with the polymer industry. He was behind the discovery and development of thermoplastic elastomers, now commercialized by Arkema under the trade name Pebax. His last research works were devoted to pioneering studies on enzymatic catalysis in polymerizations (1989-2001). During his career, he acted as Head of the departments of physical chemistry (1978-1980) and macromolecular chemistry (1985-1992) at UPMC and as Head of the molecular and macromolecular physical chemistry branch of the National Committee for Research of CNRS (1983-1987). He authored or co-authored more than 300 research papers and has supervised more than 100 PhD studies. He was awarded many scientific prizes, including the Silver Medal of CNRS, the Pierre Sue Great Prize, and the Lavoisier Medal of the Société Chimique de France. Ernest was a great figure in polymer science, a leading scientist whom his numerous students will never forget, a man of culture, full of humour, and a warm and faithful friend who will be sorely missed.