We are sad to share the news of the death of Dr Maurits De Planque, Deputy Head of School (Education) Electronics and Computer Science (ECS).
Maurits was born in 1973 and spent his formative years in Rotterdam, Netherlands before completing a Master’s degree in Chemistry and his doctorate in Biophysics at Utrecht University, graduating in 2000. He then worked for seven years as a post-doctoral research fellow at the Universities of Melbourne, Utrecht, and Oxford.
He joined ECS in 2007 as a Lecturer, soon after the devastating fire destroyed the clean rooms. Initially he was a joint appointment between the Nanoscale System Integration and the Science and Engineering of Natural Systems Research Groups as his research interests were covered by both. By 2009, Maurits was an active full member of the new Nano-electronics Research Group based in the rebuilt Mountbatten Building and over the next three years played a significant role in the commissioning and management of the Southampton Nanofabrication Cleanroom equipment including the scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope. The focus of his research was in the application of nano/micro-technology to biomembranes, in particular, ion channel nanopores for drug screening and analyte sensing. He introduced the method of microscale molecular biology and the field of nanotoxicology to ECS and built collaborations with colleagues in Medicine and Biological Sciences in the context of the Institute for Life Sciences (IfLS), supported by University and EPSRC grants.
As a Lecturer he was actively engaged in ECS education; he was very popular with the students and, with colleagues, developed MSc level modules, including one centred on microfabrication that 14 years later is a still a compulsory component of the MSc in Micro and Nanotechnology. His contributions in terms of research and education were recognised when, in 2014, he was promoted to Associate Professor.
Without doubt, Maurits cared deeply about students and volunteered for several roles within School/Faculty management and administration that were student centred. When it came to education matters Maurits’ dedication was selfless, giving his best and always considering the needs and demands of both staff and students. For several years he was an MSc programme leader before stepping up to be the Director of MSc Programmes in 2016, while at the same time serving as a Faculty representative on the University’s Academic Quality and Standards Committee. He spent considerable time developing the ECS suite of MSc programmes, successfully delivering a significant reorganisation that greatly improved student satisfaction but was also sustainable – allowing for managed growth of MSc student numbers within the School. For the last 12 months Maurits has served as the School’s Deputy Head (Education) and oversaw the initial development of three new degree streams in Biomedical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Computer Engineering, which over the next four to five years will allow for significant growth of the ECS undergraduate cohort, effectively doubling the size of the School.
Maurits was a modest man who wore his intelligence lightly. In all things he was very well organised, he always consulted and read widely ensuring that he was fully prepared for anything that might predictably occur. He took this approach not just to his research but also his teaching and management roles. He had a rare ability – rather than presenting strong counterarguments or being highly critical, he could ask a thought-provoking question that, when answered, was both informative and effective in ensuring a good decision was made. His diplomatic, friendly and conscientious approach was greatly appreciated by all that worked with him and he was a highly respected member of the School. His loss will be keenly felt by friends and colleagues across the University.
