Pavel Jungwirth Passed Away, Yet He Remains With Us Forever

On Thursday, July 23, 2026, Prof. Mgr. Pavel Jungwirth, DSc., one of the most prominent Czech physical chemists, an internationally recognized scientist, and former chairman of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic, died at the age of sixty. Through his scientific work, he significantly enriched his field and inspired countless colleagues and students. Memories of him will remain indelibly etched in the minds of all who had the honor of knowing him personally.

He spent his professional life primarily affiliated with the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Heyrovský Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University. He made significant contributions to the development of theoretical and computational chemistry, particularly in research on ionic effects in biological systems, aqueous interfaces, solvated electrons, and molecular simulations.

"He often enjoyed asking – and successfully answering – seemingly trivial questions, such as why sodium actually explodes on contact with water, why heavy water is sweet, or why water does not behave like a metal. The answers to these questions then led to a deep understanding of some of the key physico-chemical processes in the natural world around us," writes Jan Konvalinka, director of IOCB Prague, in his obituary.

Pavel Jungwirth was the author of more than 350 scientific publications, which garnered over 20,000 citations, and the recipient of numerous prestigious domestic and international awards, including the Spiers Memorial Prize, the Humboldt Research Award, the Praemium Academiae, an ERC Advanced Grant, and the Neuron Award for Lifetime Contribution to Science. He served as Senior Editor of The Journal of Physical Chemistry and was instrumental in founding the international Dream Chemistry competition. He was elected a member of Academia Europaea, the Mainz Academy of Sciences and Literature, and, above all, the Learned Society of the Czech Republic, which he chaired from 2020 to 2022 and whose development he significantly advanced.

In addition to his extraordinary scientific achievements, he was also an inspiring teacher, a mentor to many young scientists, a beloved popularizer of science, and a prominent figure in the Czech academic community. With his enthusiasm, curiosity, playful spirit of inquiry, and energy, he was able to spark excitement about his research topics among colleagues, students, and the general public, whom he addressed through interviews, columns, popular science articles, and public lectures. He was also a loving father and grandfather, a passionate tennis player, and a winemaker—he looked forward to spending his later years as a caretaker of tennis courts and tending to his vineyard.

The passing of Pavel Jungwirth represents a great loss for Czech and world science. His professional legacy, humane approach, and inspiration for future generations of researchers will remain a lasting part of the scientific world.

Photo by Tomáš Belloň, IOCB Prague