After 27 years of dedicated service to DLR, Dr. Robert Backhaus was given an official farewell on the occasion of his well-deserved retirement. After a lecture by Dr. Backhaus on the UN-SPIDER program, Prof. Stefan Dech, director of the German Remote Sensing Data Center, paid tribute to Dr. Backhaus’ systems analysis approach to applying remote sensing to issues of environmental protection and planning and to his exceptional commitment to the UN-SPIDER program as a national remote sensing expert.
Robert Backhaus was employed by DLR since 1986, first as a science associate for an ESA study on using the microgravitation environment for investigations in the biological sciences. Later activities included coordinating the incorporation of space activities in program planning, and serving as interim head of the DFD branch in Köln. Since 2008 he has represented DLR as a senior expert for the United Nations in a program to promote the exploitation of aerospace opportunities for disaster management, particularly in developing countries.
Dr. Robert Backhaus retires
From left to right: Dr. Stefan Voigt, Dr. Harald Mehl, Dr. Robert Backhaus, Prof. Stefan Dech, Dr. Konstanze Lechner, Dr. Monika Gähler, Prof. Günter Strunz, Hans Voss, Gunter Schreier und Dr. Joachim Post
