Fig. 1. Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rolf Dieter Stoll
On 1st November 2021, Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rolf Dieter Stoll (Figure 1), director emeritus of the Institute of Mining Engineering III at RWTH Aachen University, Aachen/Germany, passed away at the age of 88.
Prof. Stoll studied mining at RWTH from 1954 onwards, after graduating from high school, completing a period of practical training as a miner in the USA, and graduating with a diploma in 1958. After working for an American oil company for 14 years, most recently as managing director of a subsidiary in Frankfurt, he moved to Martinswerk GmbH, Bergheim, then a subsidiary of Alusuisse, as deputy managing director, responsible, among other things, for the company’s Neurath-Nordfeld open pit lignite mine.
His scientific and didactic interests prompted him to return to RWTH as a research assistant in 1977. His doctorate in 1980 in the field of open pit mining technology was followed by his habilitation in 1986 and the award of a teaching license for the subject of deep drilling technology, oil and gas production. In 1987 he was appointed university professor and director of the Institute of Mining Science III, which he headed until his retirement in March 1999.
A particular concern of his was the continuous updating of the courses offered and the diversification of the mining studies program. Particular mention should be made of his forward-looking commitment to internationalization, e. g., through the introduction of the European Mining Course as a major course of study jointly supported by the universities in London, Delft, Helsinki and Aachen.
Even after his retirement, he remained active for many years in the consulting company he and doctoral students of the Institute of MiningEngineering III co-founded in 1991 and also promoted the scientific and teaching sector through publications and, not least, by co-editing the standard work “Der Braunkohlentagebau”.
In Prof. Stoll, mineral raw material extraction has lost a representative who was committed to and valued in teaching, research and industry. (em. Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Niemann-Delius/Si.)
