Pieter Baas (28 April 1944 – 29 April 2024) was a Dutch botanist, wood anatomist, and emeritus professor of plant systematics at Leiden University. He served as scientific director of the Rijksherbarium of Leiden University (1991–1999) and later as the first director of the National Herbarium of the Netherlands (1999–2005). He was a distinguished fellow of the International Academy of Wood Science and a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Early life and education
Baas was born on 28 April 1944 in the municipality of Wieringermeer, Netherlands. He attended MULO and HBS secondary schools. In 1962, he began studying biology at Leiden University. Between 1968 and 1969, he studied at the Jodrell Laboratory of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, under Professor Charles Russell Metcalfe. In 1969, he joined the Rijksherbarium as a wood anatomy expert. He earned his PhD in 1975 with a thesis titled Comparative anatomy of Ilex, Nemopanthus, Sphenostemon, Phelline, and Oncotheca.
Career
In 1987, Baas became extraordinary professor (bijzonder hoogleraar) of plant systematics at Leiden University, and in 1991 he became a full professor and scientific director of the Rijksherbarium, succeeding Cornelis Kalkman. In 1993, when the Rijksherbarium faced a proposed 50% budget cut, Baas successfully lobbied for its preservation, including informing Queen Beatrix of the situation. In 1999, the National Herbarium of the Netherlands was formed through the merger of the herbarium collections of Leiden University, Utrecht University, and Wageningen University, with Baas as its first director. He retired as professor in April 2005 and as director in September 2005, succeeded by Erik Smets.
Research
Baas specialized in systematic and ecological wood anatomy. His principal research focused on the evolution of anatomical diversity in wood and the significance of tree biology in relation to global environmental change. He also worked on plant anatomy, phylogenetics, wood culture, biodiversity, conservation, and microscopic wood identification. From 1976 until near his death, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the IAWA Journal (International Association of Wood Anatomists). He collaborated extensively with American wood scientist Elisabeth Wheeler, including on the InsideWood identification website. He was occasionally called upon as a scientific expert in police investigations involving wooden weapons or tools.
Awards and honours
- Corresponding member, Botanical Society of America (1987)
- Member, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (2000)
- Linnean Medal, Linnean Society of London (2003)
- Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion (2005)
- The fossil wood genera Baasia and Baasoxylon, and the plant species Ilex baasiana and Lasianthus baasianus, are named after him.
Personal life and death
Baas survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami while in Sri Lanka. He was a lifelong member of the Residentie Bach Koor and the Leiderdorps Kamerkoor. He died on 29 April 2024, one day after his 80th birthday.
