In memoriam: Prof. dr. Peter Eckl
It is with deep sadness that we received the information on passing of prof. Dr. Peter Eckl, a renowned scientist in the field of Genetics and Environmental Toxicology. As a professor of the University of Salzburg, he has initiated cooperation with the University of Prishtina and has been involved in a numerous projects and other joint activities.
Prof. Eckl gave a key contribution (in the framework of the cooperation with the colleagues of the Department of Biology) to get funding and to implement six projects (two from the EU and four other projects from the Austrian Development Agency). He was a supervisor of four PhD students from Kosovo, two of them being University of Prishtina staff. Moreover, seven students and a professor from the University of Prishtina had the opportunity to be hosted by prof. Eckl during their research stays in his Lab at the University of Salzburg. A significant product of this cooperation is the curriculum development, laboratory infrastructure and installment of the new research methodologies at the Department of Biology (Genetic lab) as well as the eight research articles and nine presentations in international conferences which are related to the environmental and public health issues in Kosovo. Including other research topics, the cooperation with the colleagues from the Department of Biology resulted in a total of fifteen research articles, twenty-five conference presentations and five book chapters thus, advancing the University of Prishtina standing in relevant databases. Prof. Eckl has contributed also as visiting professor in the implementation of the Doctoral program at the Department of Biology.
Through two TEMUPS projects, Prof. Eckl supported the University of Prishtina in building structures and capacities for the quality assurance at the University of Prishtina as well as the advancing of the role of students in the Higher Education Institutions in the Kosovo.
Beside the direct involvement in the projects with the University of Prishtina, prof. Eckl was always available for support in setting the cooperation between the University of Prishtina and their colleagues from the University of Salzburg and other Institutions also in the other fields, resulting in intensive and fruitful cooperation.
Based on his contribution, the partnership with the University of Salzburg has been raised to the level of strategic importance for the University of Prishtina, for which the University of Prishtina will be forever grateful.
Rest in peace, prof. Peter Eckl!
Prof. Dr. Marjan Dema
Rector