In Memoriam Gál MIilós 1949-2025

Miklós Gál, a distinguished biologist, a prominent figure in Hungarian Earth science research, and a committed scholar of the natural sciences, passed away on December 16, 2025, in his 76th year. His career was characterised by rigorous scientific precision and a profound professional dedication to field research. Miklós Gál was born on February 18, 1949, in Zalaegerszeg. He completed his secondary education at the Kiss Ferenc Forestry Technical School in Szeged, followed by studies at the Teacher Training College of Pécs, where he earned a degree in Biology and Drawing majoring 1972. He further enhanced his professional credentials by obtaining a secondary school teaching diploma in Biology from the Kossuth Lajos University in Debrecen. In the early stages of his career, he worked at the Research Institute for Fodder Growing in Bicsérd, focusing on plant genetics and morphological studies. During this period, he participated in significant ethnobotanical expeditions to Transylvania and Mongolia. A definitive milestone in his professional trajectory began in 1976 at the Palaeontology Department of the Geological Laboratory in Komló. Here, he specialised in the study of calcareous nannoplankton (calcareous microfossils), with a particular emphasis on the biostratigraphy analysis of Miocene, Paleogene, and Cretaceous strata. His contributions to technological innovation were notable; upon his initiative, the institute established an electron microscopy laboratory. The micrographs he produced achieved international scientific recognition. His scientific impact is further evidenced by the nannoplankton species Noelaerhabdus bonagali, which was described in collaboration with his colleagues and named in his honour. Another cornerstone of his work was the research of Mesozoic vertebrate remains from the Mecsek Mountains, specifically dinosaur footprints (Komlosaurus). His private collection is of unique scientific value; a significant portion of his findings was donated to the József Attila City Library and Museum Collection in Komló to serve public education and science. Following the institutional reorganisation of geological research, he returned to pedagogy and subsequently conducted hydrobiological research at the laboratory of Komlóvíz Kft. In his passing, we have lost a researcher of polymathic researcher whose work spanned from micropaleontology and stratigraphy to environmental protection. His legacy is preserved for future generations through his extensive list of publications and the fossil record he meticulously uncovered