Leo Maas

I've had the opportunity of discussing several times with Leo, it has always been very inspirative for my ongoing work and for the perspectives of my research in the field.

I had the honor and pleasure to meet Leo at various conferences, to listen to his talks and to read his publications. Leo is a godsend for any institution dealing with Physical Oceanography, and deserves a highest position. I strongly support this petition and call NIOZ to reconsider their decision.

I am only coming to this rather late, but would strongly support this petition. The subject needs the kind of work Leo is well known for and he should be supported.

Prof. Leo Maas is an inspirational and oustanding researcher with international recognition in the field of Physical Oceanography. I sincerely hope the NIOZ reconsider this decision and Prof. Leo Maas can recover his position.

While doing my PhD with Leo I've very much enjoyed the combination of theoretical and practical work that was typical for him. I have always been impressed by his knowledge and originality. This decision is a shame for the Dutch scientific community.

Today I personally heard from Leo about this petition. In all comments I see many people wondering why this all happens to Leo. Please allow me to express my view on all of this. One year ago I, being a physical oceanographer, was fired. I had worked at NIOZ for 30 years, had been head of the physical oceanography department for 10 years, followed by a position as deputy director for 7 years. 2 years ago Royal NIOZ had to find solutions to the problem of decreasing budgets. By then, without any discussions, it was clear that the paleo-oceanographic group at NIOZ, very productive in terms of numbers of publications, wanted to fully take over and determine the future of this, by then, beautiful typical sea research institute. I openly expressed my doubts on that view and expressed that I was strongly against a future in which only quantity (H-indices, no matter what content of the research) would determine the future of NIOZ and not quality of the papers produced (and their contribution to a better understanding of the present ocean). After speaking this out, I was sent home and got fired after big fights at the court. In this period Leo, by then being the head of the physical oceanography department, openly stated that he agreed with me. Then he was forced to lay down his position as department head. Now he is punished even further, I guess and have heard the argument being that NIOZ no longer wants 'thinking scientists' but 'doing scientists'. What a shame for science the Netherlands! Herman Ridderinkhof

Leo Maas is a highly successful scientist by any measure, an original thinker, and a gifted mentor to young researchers. I cannot understand his termination after 30 years of representing NIOZ in his field.

Ocean observations and theory are two sides of the same coin. To remove either one is to diminish the other. Leo Maas is an outstanding scientist whose contributions should be a source of pride to NIOZ and to the Netherlands. Abolishing his position is deeply unfortunate and will come to be regarded as a serious mistake. I urge that the decision be reversed before the long term damage becomes irreversible.

There are not more than 100 persons in the field of modern oceanography who form its scientific trend. Leo Maas belongs to this "golden hundreed". I know his work since 1995. Without his active support and assistance an English translation of the very popular book by Prof. Yuri Miropol'sky "Dynamics of Internal Gravity Waves In the Ocean" could not appear. World science needs such people right now!

The decision by the NIOZ-management team to "fire" Leo Maas, a world class specialist/professor in physical oceanography, is totally bizarre. To me this decision serves to demonstrate the complete incompetence of the present NIOZ-management team.

The case of Leo Maas is characteristic for destructive trends which we see in ocean science (and probably in many other fields of natural sciences): the trend for commercialisation of science and the trend for applied instead of fundamental research. Although our countries are basically rich, funding for research institutes is shortened, and increasing emphasis is put on third-party funding. Applied projects can typically make much more money than theoretical projects, which therefore lack more and more respect. And there is a specific problem for Theoretical Oceanography: Our best journals, such as Journal of Physical Oceanography or Journal of Fluid Mechanics, have impact factors below 3 (because we are a small community of scientists citing each others), and in climate geology or microbiology such impact factors are characteristic for trash journals. Therefore, Theoretical Oceanographers have a double dilemma: they make little money and they publish in low-impact journals. These are two reasons why in interdisciplinary marine science institutes Theoretical Oceanographers have a reputation problem. If it then comes to budget cuts, they are among the first to be fired. I feel that exactly this has happened to Leo. But who is now explaining to the remaining NIOZ colleagues how the ocean really works? And who is educating the next generation Theoretical Oceanographers in the Netherlands?

I don't know Leo in person although we work in the same institute, however firing him given his huge number of publication seems ridiculus to me.

Leo Maas is one of the best physics oceanographer.

If the NIOZ looses Leo Maas, they do not only loose his internationally recognized expertise in Physical Oceanography, but also a great mentor for future oceanographers. Getting rid of Leo will be a sad end to a great career. Not only will it negatively affect both the NIOZ research capabilities and reputation, it would be a great loss for the international science community. I strongly urge to make sure Leo does not leave the NIOZ. The NIOZ would should itself in the foot, and nobody benefits from that.

An ignorant choice

Leo Maas's contributions to the understanding of the resonant amplification of tide is very important.

Leo has been my master thesis advisor. He has been patient, encouraging and respectful. He is one of the people that one wishes to find on his way: a humble and brilliant mind. Leo is a Scientist.

I think that the decision to abolish the position of senior scientist Leo Maas is not right. He is well-known scientist in the geophysical hydrodynamics.

From the NIOZ strategic plan "we aim to generate the expertise and knowledge needed to underpin and improve longer-term sustainable and responsible marine management, from fundamental understanding of key-processes to promoting innovative solutions to the coming challenges of sustainable, and responsible use of the seas and oceans". and the they abolish the position of a reference researcher in oceanography !

A scientist like Leo Maas honours an institution I would think. He has done truly original work on internal waves, which will be considered as classical contribution.