We, Jan’s
colleagues, are in sorrow and feel empty since March 3 1997 when Jan was struck
by a tragic traffic accident. Colleague researchers from around the world with
whom Jan had built up a relationship via the Internet will wait in vain for
Jan’s reactions and ideas. The students and project members who were coached by
Jan, will miss Jan’s vision on the visualization of knowledge.
We have gotten to know Jan as a student, then as a globe trotter and finally as a
colleague. As colleagues we stand griefstriken around Jan who has left us. We
have come to learn Jan in the last two years as erudite, inspirational, and
especially someone warm in character and always ready to help. He was the apple
of our eye.
It was Jan
who prepared ISM’s WEB pages, and always rescued us when something went wrong
with our presentations. And after you became aware that you could always rely
unconditionally on Jan, you also came to sense how much he had to tell. Through
him we became aware that we should deepen our knowledge more and more in areas
such as history, astronomy, religions but also in environmental issues,
disarmament and human rights; As Jan talked about these topics you immediately
felt fascinated. Jan respected the unknown. At the same time he felt
irresistibly attracted to it.
Similarly,
when you talked with Jan about his dissertation you also perceived that he was qualified to address the
challenging question in his research: How can software tools assist in human
thinking, imagination and learning?
When Jan
arrived perspiring, at his work place in the morning you perceived that he was
not the sort to take a quiet cycling tour. And his energetic start was a
precursor for the energy he would demonstrate throughout the day. He did not
avoid difficult or annoying tasks; Lengthy scoring procedures, the meticulous
inspection of concept maps. He knew of more pleasant things to do, but he did
not avoid his responsibilities.
Jan also
had a special feeling for the fragility in humans. He was a volunteer in the
university rescue team. When I asked Jan if he would assist me in giving a
course this coming summer in a luxury environment in Florida, his first
reaction was: “First I have to see if it’s my turn to be standby for the rescue team.”; Looking into: This
was Jan’s sense for responsibility.
The process
of selecting Jan as the best candidate for the vacant Ph.D. position gives
another example of why we appreciated him so much. While he was doing his
alternative national service, Jan had been already recruited by our department
to assist in some urgent tasks. In addition to that however it became clear to
me in other ways as well that Jan would be the ultimate person for this Ph.D.
vacancy. During an unexpected meeting with Jan in a train trip, I described the
research plan to him. Jan then showed me that there were several weak elements
in the design which should be repaired first. He took a pen and independently
continued to map the problem domain further. The question emerged: Who was applying: Jan or us?
As we look
at Jan’s curriculum vitae we feel much admiration.
Secondary
school: During the 5 years he was class representative, secretary of the
student council, on the review board of the school journal and member of the
representative advisory board. During his University study he was a member of
many committees, working groups, carried out many student-assistant projects,
and most of all he delivered high quality work. His final Master-level project
concerned the cultural aspects of educational software in countries such as
Bulgaria and Egypt. His overall
qualifications: Highly involved, creative, conscientious and co-operative.
However when you met Jan as a colleague, his curriculum vitae was surpassed by
his value as a human being. Jan filled in an important role in the social space
of our group …. Without any ado or selfishness.
Since Jan
began working as a Ph.D. student in the TO Faculty, I have been often addressed
by colleagues who were struck by Jan’s motivation and his approach. Many of
them have also spoken to me in the last three days with wet eyes and deep
grieve in their voices: …… It shouldn’t have happened; …. Jan’s passing away is
a loss to science.
Similarly
the reactions of Jan’s instructors in the ICO Research school have included
comments such as:
…. An
energetic, cheerful, kind and intelligent man ….
…. A real
scientist, creative, critical and most of all broadly oriented, made of the
right stuff.
As the
direct supervisor of Jan I feel myself fortunate to have known him so closely.
This also is so for many of my colleagues, especially Prof. Jef Moonen, Ivan
Stanchev and Betty Collis for whom Jan meant more than a student or colleague.
Jan was a comrade for them. They were quite close together the last six years.
In addition; the practical value of Jan in initiating and advising new
developments cannot be overestimated. Jan’s cordiality made many conquests.
Remembering this could be the small pilot flame for the spirit in our group,
that might finally give brilliance to the results of what we and Jan were
working so hard for.
We intend
to carry on Jan’s work and spirit among us. The department of ISM will always
see Jan in a special way as its offspring: He came to us, he gave us color, and
…. We had to give him up prematurely.
May the
remembrance of Jan linger on.
On behalf
of Jan’s colleagues
P.s.
Further correspondence on Jan’s publications in the area of concept mapping can
be continued with
Dr. P.A.M. Kommers
Faculty of
Educational Science and Technology
Division of
Educational Instrumentation
P.o. box
217
7500
AE Enschede
The
Netherlands
Phone: +31 53 4893576 or 3611
Fax: +31 53 4894580
Email: kommers@edte.utwente.nl
WWW:
http://www.to.utwente.nl/user/ism/kommers/personal.htm