International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 49 (2006) 1761–1762
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Editorial

Prof. em. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Franz Mayinger on his 75th birthday

Professor Mayinger is one of the leading authorities inthe ﬁeld of thermal sciences and well respected amongst
his professional colleagues all over the world. Franz
Mayinger, born on September 2, 1931 at Augsburg, studied
Mechanical Engineering (1951–1955) at the Technical University of Munich and afterwards he became Scientiﬁc
Assistant with Ernst Schmidt, Chair for Thermodynamics
of that University. After obtaining his Ph.D. degree in
Thermodynamics (1961), he joined the Maschinenfabrik
Ausburg Nürnberg (MAN) in 1962 and he worked there
until 1969 as manager and division director of a research
department and laboratory for thermo-ﬂuiddynamics innuclear and chemical engineering until 1969. In October
1969, he became full professor and director of the Institutefor Process Engineering at the University of Hannover. InApril 1981, he returned to the University of Munich andworked there as full professor and holder of the chair for
Thermodynamics which is the chair that was previously
held by Wilhelm Nusselt, Ernst Schmidt and Ulrich Grigull
before him. He became professor Emeritus in 1999.

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In his academic career, Franz Mayinger served in several
important positions in the University management. He waselected as the Dean of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (1986–1987). He is a founding member of the Applied Natural
Sciences at Bayreuth University (1995–1998) and he served
as Chairman of the Board of this university since 1998. Heserved as a member of the Reactor Safety Commission atthe Federal Department of Environment (1971–1992) andthe Chairman of the Commission in 1983–1984 and in
1990. He chaired the Commission of Accidents and Failures in Nuclear Reactors at the Federal Department ofEnvironment (1992–1996). He also served as a member ofthe Advisory Board of Science and Technology of the Government of Bavaria (1993–2000), the Senate of the German
Research Society (1977–1983), and the Advisory Board for
Science of the Federal Government of Germany (1991–1997). He served as the Scientiﬁc Chairman of the Bavarian
Elite Academy (1998–2002), and is a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences since1989. He has been frequently

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Editorial / International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 49 (2006) 1761–1762

invited as a lecturer and speaker by various institutions in
the US, Europe, Japan, China and other countries.
Professor Mayinger has published over 350 scientiﬁcpapers on thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, multiphase-ﬂow, power engineering, optical measurement techniques and reactor safety, and fundamentals of hydrogen
combustion. He is the author/co-author of 7 books. Professor Mayinger performed pioneering work in all these ﬁeldsand he has been recognized as one of the most outstanding
scientist in the ﬁeld of thermal sciences. He has received
many international recognitions: The Max Jacob Awardof the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and theAmerican Institute of Chemical Engineering was bestowed
on him in 1991. He received an Honorary Doctorate fromthe University of Hannover (1994), Medal ‘‘Pro Meritis’’of the Bavarian Ministry of Education and Cultural Aﬀairs(1998), Ernst Solvay Award (2000) and the Maximilian Order which is the highest acknowledgement of his scientiﬁc
success from the state of Bavaria (2001).
Everyone who has become acquainted with Professor
Mayinger or had the opportunity to work with him hasenjoyed his charming personality and his well-grounded
humor. On the occasion of his 75th birthday, on
behalf of his students, colleagues, and friends all over
the world, we wish him a very happy birthday and many
more active years in good health and happiness with hiswife Frau Franziska Mayinger, children, and grandchildren.
S. Kakaç
V.K. Dhir
E. Hahne
W.J. Minkowycz
R.I. Nigmatulin
D. Mewes
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Miami,
P.O. Box 248294,
Coral Gables, FL 33124-0620,
United States
Tel.: +1 305 284 3337; fax: +1 305 284 2580.
E-mail address: skakac@eng.miami.edu (S. Kakaç)