Physics professor, former rector and MEP, Giorgos Grammatikakis, passed away at the age of 84.

He was hospitalized at the University Hospital of Heraklion.

The day before yesterday, he developed respiratory failure, entered the ICU, and passed away today, Wednesday (25/10).

Giorgos Grammatikakis was from 1982 a professor at the Physics Department of the University of Crete.

He was born in Heraklion and studied Physics at the University of Athens.

He did postgraduate studies at Imperial College of the University of Londonwhile after his return to Greece he worked at “Demokritos” and later at the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva.

His scientific interests revolved around the structure of matter and cosmology, while as a visiting professor at Harvard University he also dealt with the history of science.

Giorgos Grammatikakis was elected twice (1990-1996) Rector of the University of Crete, while for three years he was also President of the Ionian University. In recent years he has participated in international expert committees dealing with the perspectives of education and research in the European Union.

He has written four books: The Count of Berenicewhich was also filmed in a TV series by ET-1; the Cosmographs (sold out), the Autobiography of light and, finally, the Conversations with lightwhere the author’s account of the Genesis of the Universe and life is accompanied by compositions and improvisations by Greek musicians.

He was honored by the Union of Greek Physicists for his contribution to Education and Science and their connection with Art.