In memoriam: Professor Dr. Harald Rose (1935–2026)

It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Professor Dr. Harald Rose, who died on 27 July 2026, aged 91.

Harald Rose was one of the most influential electron opticians of his generation. His foundational work on aberration correction fundamentally transformed electron microscopy, making it possible to visualise atomic structures with unprecedented precision. In doing so, he opened new avenues for research in materials science, physics, chemistry, and many other fields.

Throughout his long career, Harald Rose combined exceptional scientific clarity with persistence and intellectual independence. His ideas extended far beyond theory: they continue to live on in scientific instruments, laboratories around the world, and in the work of the many researchers he inspired and mentored.

His outstanding achievements were recognised through numerous international honours, including the Kavli Prize in Nanoscience, awarded jointly with Maximilian Haider, Knut Urban, and Ondrej Krivanek. He will also be remembered as a dedicated teacher, an inspiring colleague, and a passionate scientist.

With Harald Rose, we have lost a great scientist and a pioneer of modern electron microscopy. His legacy will endure—in the discoveries his work made possible and in his enduring determination to make the invisible visible.

Our deepest sympathies are with his family, friends, colleagues, and all those who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.