Obituary: Farewell to Michel David (1945-–2000) more

Mathematical Geology, Vol. 33, No. 2, 2001 Obituary Farewell to Michel David (1945–2000) ´ Michel David, Professor of Geostatistics at Ecole Polytechnique, Montr´ al, and e Fellow of the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada, died on May 10, 2000, in Laval, Qu´ bec. He left behind his wife Ellen and their two children e Kaitlin and Justin, as well as his remarkable legacy. A world renowned expert in geostatistics and ore reserve estimation, Michel is credited for putting geostatistics on the scientific world map and establishing geostatistics as the tool for ore reserve estimation and orebody modeling worldwide. Due to Michel’s influence, geostatistics is now taught in all mining schools and many geology departments, and has spread to other scientific and engineering fields. Although the role of the individual and their contribution to civilization is perhaps a topic for philosophers to debate, it is universally recognized that nonordinary individuals change the way people do things. Michel was a nonordinary person. He was beyond the conventionalities of life: an individual with great intellect and curiosity, passion and tenacity, pragmatism and the focus to somehow lead people to change the way they did things. ´ A graduate in Ingenieur civil des mines from the Ecole des Mines of Nancy, France, in 1967, Michel was trained by the founder of geostatistics Georges Matheron and his collaborator Philippe Formery. He was the first among a generation of geostatisticians responsible for the dissemination of geostatistics throughout ´ the world. Michel came to Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal to establish the first regular courses in geostatistics for future mining engineers and geologists in the Americas. He went on to receive his M.Sc. (1969) and Ph.D. (1973) degrees in operations research from the University of Montreal, became an assistant professor before completing his Ph.D., and a full professor at the Department of Mineral Engineering in his 30s. 241 0882-8121/01/0200-0241$19.50/1 C 2001 International Association for Mathematical Geology 242 Obituary Early in his career, it was evident that Michel felt that “to be is to do” and that his theoretical approach to geostatistics should be tested in “real world” situations, thus his romance with consulting began in 1971. Having a flair for bringing experts together, Michel became director of the Mineral Exploration Research Institute in Montreal in 1978. In 1980, he used his leadership skills to establish Geostat Systems International. Starting with orebody models and reserve estimation, Michel applied his work and ideas to numerous mining projects and operating mines worldwide, consulted to over 60 mining companies from Canada and the U.S. to Chile, South Africa, Thailand, to Papua New Guinea, Australia. If humans were capable of carrying out activities on other planets, Michel would have been there to see more and learn more! In 1993, the international community of one hundred leading researchers and practitioners in geostatistics from every continent, came to the International Forum on Geostatistics for the Next Century in Montr´ al to honor Michel’s e remarkable contribution to the development and implementation of geostatistics. The event reflected not only his recognition by and respect from the international community and his peers, but in addition, Michel’s “intellectual inheritance” and quest for new, enhanced, integrated and technically broader, geostatistical frameworks for mining and resource modeling. Overwhelmed by his accomplishments, we asked him during that meeting, “What describes you, the best Michel?” “Teacher,” he answered. A teacher and a mentor he was to so many of us who owe him the start of our careers and the way we look at the world around us. There is a remarkable number of people, some of them exceptionally accomplished, who were influenced by Michel David, the Teacher. Among his students were Canadians who have made their own contribution to the field, including Raymond Sabourin, No¨ l Billette, Jean-Marc Belisle, Georges Verly, Kateri e ´ Guertin, Alexandre Desbarats, Denis Marcotte, Robert de l’Etoile, Alain Cazavant, Alain Moreau, and Mark Jutras. Several foreign postgraduate students and research ´ fellows came to Ecole Polytechnique to work under Michel; several of them including Peter Dowd, Michael Davis, Dominique Fran¸ ois-Bongar¸ on, Jean-Michel c c Rendu, Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, and Michel Dagbert went on to leave their own mark with international careers. Michel’s visiting professorship at the Colorado School of Mines attracted American students who also became know for their work, including Randall Barnes, Jeff Myers, and Kadri Dagdelen. His numerous short courses to geologists and mining engineers throughout the world led to additional converts to geostatistics, such as Robert Sandefur, Harry Parker, Bruce Stanley, David Armstrong, Alan Noble, Viv Snowden, Art De Carle, Bruce Davis, and R. Mohan Srivastava. Books can change the world. Michel’s books had a significant impact on his success as a teacher. Of most significance in his earlier years was his first Obituary 243 breakthrough and beloved book in 1977: Geostatistical Ore Reserve Estimation, the first English language book on geostatistics. It was followed by the Handbook of Applied Advanced Geostatistical Ore Reserve Estimation in 1988. Three more books were achieved in collaboration from the NATO ASI international geostatistics workshops at Frascati, Italy in 1975, the Tahoe, California workshop in 1983, and the 1986 CIM conference on reserve estimation in Montr´ al. “My books are e my first children” Michel proclaimed proudly to the world and it was no surprise that his favorite book was next to him at the very end. Yet, despite his endless written work, unlike many teachers, he taught his pupils to learn for themselves, look at other viewpoints, read other people’s papers and books, investigate other methods and ideas, to see more, learn more, think better, and observe that the world has many colors and myriads of shades. This is perhaps one of the attributes of the nonordinary person who does change the way people do things. In recognition of his contribution, Michel received several major awards. The International Association for Mathematical Geology honored him in 1988 with its highest award, the W. C. Krumbein medal. The same year, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. The Canadian Institute of Mining recognized his worldwide achievements in 1989 with the award of the Selwyn G. Blaylock medal. In the last decade, Michel diverted his zeal and commitment to his private life and was fortunate to reunite with Ellen. He was also fortunate to accomplish what he called “the best thing I ever did,” to create his two wonderful children, Kaitlin 8 and Justin 3; his pride for them could never be hidden. Kaitlin’s magical violin playing of the French national anthem moved Michel to tears. Justin zipped around Michel’s bed with his dump trucks, demonstrating perhaps his early inclinations into mechanics. As a family, they struggled daily with the effects of Michel’s advancing multiple sclerosis. And as a family, they encountered and conquered difficult obstacles with humor, compassion, and a zest for life. Michel will be remembered as the brilliant, passionate, enthusiastic, and pragmatic teacher and mentor he was to so many of us. Michel will be remembered as the curious, intuitive, adventurous, thinker beyond boundaries and the trivialities of everyday life. Michel will be remembered as the unique individual who accomplished in a short period of time more than most people do in an entire lifetime. Michel will be remembered as one of those who lead people to change the way they do things. Michel will be remembered with his smile and bright sharp eyes, which he kept to the very end. 244 Obituary Michel David We will continue your quest for excellence, innovation, and education. See you later Michel! Roussos Dimitrakopoulos1 Professor and Director W. H. Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre The University of Queensland Brisbane, Australia, and Michel Dagbert2 President Geostat Systems International, Inc. Montreal, Canada 1Roussos was the last Ph.D. student of Michel David in the late 1980s, a co-worker at Geostat Systems 2Michel in the early 1990s, a colleague, and a personal friend. was research associate of Michel David at the Mineral Exploration Research Institute in the late 1970s, co-founder of Geostat Systems, a colleague, and a personal friend.