It is with shock and great sadness that we mourn the sudden passing of Professor Dr Josef “Sepp” Settele on 9 October 2026. Our thoughts are with his family and all those who were close to him.

As an iDiv member, internationally renowned biodiversity researcher, and valued colleague and friend, Josef Settele leaves behind an extraordinary scientific and personal legacy. He was involved at iDiv from day one. As one of the 25 principal investigators of the original proposal and both successive renewals, he played a pivotal role in shaping iDiv, while remaining deeply committed to its growth. His expertise in insect conservation, biodiversity, climate change, and land-use research, together with his scientific reputation, was instrumental to iDiv’s success and continues to shape the centre to this day.

Beyond his scientific contributions, Josef Settele was a driving force at the science-policy interface. As Head of the Department of Conservation Biology & Social-Ecological Systems at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), and through leading roles in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), including as Co-Chair of the landmark IPBES Global Assessment, he was a prominent international voice for biodiversity and nature conservation. Beyond this, he participated in numerous initiatives, in which he helped advance societal dialogue about biodiversity. At iDiv, he generously shared this experience through his involvement in communication and policy activities, helping to strengthen connections between science, decision-makers, and society.

Despite his global standing and extraordinary achievements, Josef Settele remained approachable, humble, and deeply committed to people. Many colleagues remember fondly – and with gratitude – his openness, his willingness to listen, and his ability to bring people together. Whether over a coffee, during a workshop discussion, or in support of early-career researchers, he shared his knowledge generously and encouraged others to engage and seek common ground.

With Josef Settele, we have lost an exceptional scientist and a wonderful human being. His contributions have left a lasting mark on iDiv and on biodiversity research worldwide. We owe him a great deal, and his legacy will continue to inspire our work for many years to come.

We wish the family and all those close to him strength and comfort in this difficult time.

We will miss you, Sepp.

 

Professor Dr Martin Quaas, Dr Anne Wesemann, Dr Sonja Knapp, Professor Dr Ulrich Brose, Professor Dr Stan Harpole and Professor Dr Henrique Pereira – iDiv’s Extended Executive Board

and

Professor Dr Christian Wirth, Professor Dr Kirsten Küsel, Professor Dr. François Buscot, Professor Dr Helge Bruelheide – iDiv’s founding directors

 

Please consider leaving a message of condolence on the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ or the IPBES Secretariat memorial pages.