Remembering Ralph Wijers

arXiv is sad to announce the recent passing of our colleague and friend, Professor Ralph Wijers. A talented researcher, lecturer, and mentor, Ralph joined arXiv as a moderator and advisor in 2020 and was chair of both arXiv’s Physics Section Editorial Committee (SEC) and its Editorial Advisory Council.

Ralph generously lent his talents to arXiv despite his busy schedule and long list of accomplishments. Interested in astronomy from a young age, Ralph studied and taught in universities on both sides of the Atlantic, and was most recently a Professor of Astronomy at the Anton Pannekoek Institute of Astronomy (API) at the University of Amsterdam. From 2011 to 2021, Ralph served as API’s director, during which time API’s staff doubled in size. Ralph contributed to many scientific publications on all types of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). In total, he published more than 550 scientific articles, supervising more than 30 PhD students and 20 postdocs.

Ralph joined arXiv in 2020, an important time of growth and transition. Joining first as a moderator of arXiv’s astro-ph.HE category, Ralph soon took over as arXiv’s Physics SEC chair in 2021, where he generously gave his time and expertise to helping shape arXiv’s new governance. In 2023, Ralph became arXiv’s inaugural Editorial Advisory Council chair, essentially functioning as arXiv’s “Editor in Chief,” helping guide arXiv moderation and policies during a rapidly changing time for research communications.

A true champion of open science and arXiv, Ralph approached everything he did for arXiv with thoughtfulness and zeal, whether it was working with arXiv staff and volunteer moderators on policy issues or accepting the prestigious Jocelyn Bell Burnell Inspiration Medal on behalf of arXiv at the 2025 European Astronomical Society Annual Meeting. Ralph’s vision for arXiv was to support science while creating a community of respect, support, and inclusiveness. All work that promoted this vision was equally important work to Ralph, and treated by him with the same care.

“I joined arXiv shortly after Ralph,” said Ramin Zabih, Interim CEO of arXiv. “I was fortunate to work with Ralph during the entire four years of my tenure at arXiv. Ralph was remarkably dedicated to arXiv’s mission. I am confident that Ralph’s vision for arXiv as an inclusive scientific community will be carried on by arXiv’s staff. We were all fortunate to have him as a colleague, and he will be deeply missed.”

We will miss Ralph not only for his research accomplishments and contributions to astronomy and to arXiv (which were many) but also for his enthusiasm and passion for education, popularising science, and sharing the mysteries of the cosmos (and how they might be untangled) with the world at large.

Ralph didn’t reserve his time teaching to only students who would be dedicating their academic careers to physics. In addition to giving popular public lectures, Ralph also found it worthy to teach students with no background in natural sciences at all, to develop courses for Bachelors and Masters programs, and to work tirelessly to include students from all walks of life and levels of privilege in the wonder of learning and caring about the universe and what it can show us.

Science, no matter the subject or goal, is at its core a human endeavor. Ralph, even as a great intellect and researcher, knew the human side of science was just as important as the results. He was open with advice and wisdom not only to nascent astronomers or students in his charge, but anyone he encountered – new hires at arXiv were quickly and warmly greeted by Ralph, despite his busy schedule, with an invitation to talk about arXiv, research, or anything at all.

Ralph’s infectious enthusiasm and earnest curiosity made him adept at breaking down barriers, which made him a natural fit for the many things he put his hand to, but especially open access causes, scientific engagement, and to arXiv, where breaking down barriers to research access is paramount.

Thank you, Ralph, for your generosity with arXiv and with the scientific community at large – you are already missed by all of us. Our thoughts are especially with Ralph’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.