A Huge Loss for Serbian Science: Antun Balaž, Pillar of Physics, Passes Away
The Serbian scientific community is in shock and mourning! Antun Balaž, a corresponding member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU) and one of Serbia’s most important physicists, has suddenly passed away at the young age of 53. Yes, just 53 years old! So young, yet already a legend in science.
Balaž was not only the deputy director of the Institute of Physics in Belgrade but also the president of the physics committee, head of the center for studying complex systems, and leader of the laboratory for computer applications in science. In short, the man who carried Serbian physics on his shoulders.
Born in Zrenjanin, Balaž dedicated his entire academic and professional life to advancing physics in Serbia. He completed his undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies at the Faculty of Physics, University of Belgrade, and had been employed at the Institute of Physics since 1996. He led numerous national and international scientific projects, published dozens of highly cited papers in prestigious journals, and authored many textbooks and monographs.
His dedication to international collaboration and scientific contribution was recognized with numerous awards, including two “Prof. Dr. Ljubomir Ćirković” awards for the best diploma and master’s theses, as well as three annual awards from the Institute of Physics in Belgrade.
The passing of Antun Balaž is an irreplaceable loss for Serbian science and the physics community. His work and influence remain a beacon for future generations.
Details about the funeral and commemoration will be announced later.
If you care about science and want to remember this giant, drop a comment or share your story about how science or physicist Antun Balaž inspired you. Let the voice of science never be silenced!
