Research

Major scientific interests: Environmental Isotope Geochemistry, Environmental Research

Peter Fritz is specialized in the application of environmental Isotopes in Hydrogeology, Paleoclimatology and aqueous Geochemistry. However, his research comprised both theoretical aspects in isotope geochemistry as well as investigations in the age dating of groundwater, in Quaternary Geology and Paleoclimatology. A special focus were topics related to nuclear waste repositories.

The call to become founding and Scientific Director of the UFZ in Leipzig-Halle was scientific opportunity and chance for a change in the career path. Activities focused on the build-up of an international and interdisciplinary Environmental Research Centre. Research at the UFZ initially had a clear focus on the devastated landscapes of East Germany with their restoration necessities and revitalization opportunities. The scientific tasks concentrated not only on the Natural Sciences but also the Social Sciences and Environmental Medicine.

Career

• 1991-2004 Scientific Director of the UFZ-Environmental Research Centre Leipzig-Halle
• 1987-1992 Director, Institute for Hydrology at the GSF Radiation Research Centre, Munich
• 1971-1987 Professor and Head, Institute for Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Canada
• 1966-1971 Post-Doc and Scientific Assistant, Institute of Geology, University of Alberta, Canada
• 1965‐1966 Post‐Doc, Sorbonne, University of Paris, France
• 1965 Doctoral degree (Dr. rer. nat) from the Technical University of Stuttgart, Germany
• 1962-1965 Doctoral Studies at the University of Pisa, Italy
• 1957-1962 Studies in Geology at the Technical University of Stuttgart, Germany

Functions

• 2012-2017 Member, Standing Committee for Nuclear Applications (SAGNA),IAEA ,Vienna, Austri
• 2006-2017 Member, Scientific Advisory Board, and (2011 – 2017) Member of the Supervisory Board, Alberta Innovation for Energy and Environment
• 2004-2010 Scientific Monitoring of BMBF Focus Program on Sustainable Forestry Research
• since 2003 Member, Scientific Advisory Board, and (2007) Head of the SAB, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research at Ben Gurion University, Israel
• 1999‐2004 Member, Scientific Advisory Council of „Minerva‐Arid Environment Research Centre“, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
• 1997-2002 Member, Kuratorium Deutsche Bundesumweltstiftung
• 1980‐1984 Member, Advisory-Council, National Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada (1983 Head for Geosciences)

Honours and Memberships

• 2010 Honorary Doctorate, Ben Gurion University, Israel
• since 2010 Foreign Member, of Polish Academy of Sciences 
• 2003 Bundesverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse
• 2003 Honorary Doctorate, University of Leipzig
• since 1998 Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• since 1996 Fellow, Royal Society of Canada