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Jan-Pieter Clarys (1947-2023)

 

Jan Clarys a long-time member and contributor to the ISB passed away earlier this year from lung cancer at the age of 75.  Jan was a charter member of the ISB, served on the ISB Council from 1981 to 1991, and was the ISB Newsletter editor from 1982 to 1989.  He leaves behind his wife, two daughters, and a grandson.

Professor Dr. Jan-Pieter Clarys was full professor and Head of Experimental Anatomy at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) from 1990 to 2012, and Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy at the VUB from 1996 to 2004.  He became Emeritus Professor in October 2012, but in retirement maintained his involvement in research.

Jan started his career as a researcher for the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research at the University of Ghent in 1969.  He is the author of 170 scientific publications, and author or co-author of eight books on ergonomic and sports sciences.  During a 40-year career, his major research activities were devoted to hydro‐dynamics, electromyography, functional anatomy, and human body composition.  He was a keen water polo player, and some of his research included measuring muscle activity using electromyography during swimming and a water polo throw.

As well as his service to the ISB Jan was president of the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK) from 1996 to 1998.  He was also president of the World Commission of Sports Biomechanics.  He was the long-term chairman of the Steering Group of the Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming Congress series.  In 1978 he was awarded the Dutch Prize in Sports Medicine, in 1995 The Philip Noel-Baker Award from the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education, and in 1996 was awarded the silver medal for winter sports research by Austrian Olympic Committee.  Liverpool John Moores University awarded him Doctor Honoris Causa in 1996.  He was an editorial board member of the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology; the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, and the International Journal of Training and Coaching.

At the 2011 ISB Congress in Brussels Jan delivered the Wartenweiler Memorial Lecture.  His lecture was titled “The schizophrenic balance of old techniques and new technologies in body composition and their (assumed) support in biomechanics, ergonomics and health care”.

Jan will be remembered as a generous and charismatic man, who enjoyed defending his, sometimes outspoken, ideas.

 

Véronique Feipel, Université Libre de Bruxelles

John H Challis, Penn State University

 

August, 2023

 

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