Professor Josef SETTELE, a member of the External Advisory Board of the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, unexpectedly passed away on 9 October 2026.

An agroecologist by training, he devoted his professional life and passion to the study of biodiversity and insects. His work in science communication was driven by his convictions and his genuine concern for biodiversity. He was also a wonderful person, and working with him was a pleasure thanks to his warmth, humour and friendly nature.

“Sepp”, as he was affectionately known, was one of the key pillars of IPBES’s success from its very inception. He was a Coordinating Lead Author of the IPBES assessments on pollination and the Asia-Pacific region, and Co-Chair of the first IPBES Global Assessment.

Professor Settele collaborated with researchers at the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research on numerous initiatives, particularly with Anikó Kovács-Hostyánszki and András Báldi. Their joint work included the preparation of the IPBES assessment on pollination, the development of three EU Horizon project proposals, and the design of a European pollinator monitoring scheme.

His passing is an immense loss to the field of ecology.

Main photo: Settele on the left_IPBES Plenary 2026