It is with deep regret that we bid farewell to Honorary Professor Dr Peter Schmiedtchen, who passed away in January 2025. After studying physics at the University of Kharkov and completing his doctorate at TU Dresden, Peter Schmiedtchen worked as a research assistant in the field of fire protection and safety. In 1990, he joined Dräger Safety AG und Co KGaA, where he headed the ‘Safety and Emergency Management’ department until his retirement in 2021.
In 2003, together with Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences and Otto von Guericke University, he initiated the ‘Safety and Emergency Management’ degree programme, which he played a key role in shaping as a lecturer. He was appointed honorary professor in 2015.
In January 2022, Prof Schmiedtchen joined the DKKV, where he was an active member. His work on the jury for the DKKV sponsorship award deserves special recognition. With his expertise and experience, he made a decisive contribution to selecting and honouring innovative projects in disaster risk reduction.
We would like to thank Peter Schmiedtchen for his valuable commitment and express our deepest sympathy to his family and loved ones.