Herak, Milan

Milan Herak (Brašljevica in SZ Hrvaška, 5. 3. 1917), geolog, dr. znanosti, profesor of geologije in paleobotanike (upokojen) na Tehniški fakulteti (1952–1958), Fakulteti za naravoslovje in matematiko (1958–1982) in dekan zagrebške fakultete (1964–1965).
Po končani srednji šoli (II gimnazija v Zagrebu) je študiral (1937–1941) naravoslovje na Filozofski fakulteti v Zagrebu, vključno s terensko prakso. Od jeseni 1942 do pomladi 1943 je nadaljeval podiplomski študij na Dunaju v Naravoslovnem muzeju in na univerzi, kjer je pripravil rokopis “Zur Kenntnis triadischer Kalkschwämme (Sycones)”, ki ga je uporabil za dosego doktorata na zagrebški univerzi 1943.
Istega leta je začel z raziskavami v Kraškem geološko-paleontološkem muzeju. Objavil je več znanstvenih razprav in se seznanil z nekaterimi vprašanji krasa (fosilne alge, jamski medved, geotektonska in hidrogeološka vprašanja). 1952 je bil izvoljen za docenta in štiri leta pozneje za profesorja na Tehnični fakulteti Univerze v Zagrebu. 1958 je prestopil na Fakulteto za naravoslovje in matematiko (dekan 1964–1966). Sčasoma je uvedel nove predmete (paleobotaniko, paleobiologijo in geologijo kraških območij, hidrogeologijo in regionalno geologijo s tektoniko). 1960 je vpeljal podiplomski študij ved o Zemlji. Medtem je bil vodja Geološko-paleontološkega inštituta, pobudnik (1960) podiplomskega študija. Od 1964 do 1966 je bil dekan, mentor mnogih doktorskih del, član senata Univerze, občasno gostujoči professor na univerzah v Sarajevu in Beogradu in poročal na akademijah znanosti (Ljubljana, Beograd, Sarajevo, Bratislava, Dunaj, Varšava itn.). V času predavateljskega dela je napisal več učbenikov (dve izdaji Paleobotanike, pet izdaj Geologije). Tvorno je sodeloval na domačih in mednarodnih geoloških kongresih in simpozijih (Zagreb, Opatija, Ljubljana, Postojna, Trste, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Beograd, Bratislava, Köbenhavn, Moskva, Montreal). Bil je svetovalec organizacije ZN FAO in UNESCO za oceno hidrotehničnih projektov in hidrogeoloških raziskav na krasu (iztoki, ponori, vrtine, zaledja, globina talne vode), najprej sam na Jamajki, pozneje kot vodja delovne skupine ZN za sredozemske dežele (Španija, Alžirija, Tunizija, Grčija in Turčija). Kot svetovalec nekdanjih jugoslovanskih podjetij je pripomogel k boljšemu poznavanju posebnih kraških pojavov, kot so vodni zadrževalniki in oskrba z vodo v Turčiji, Libanonu in Iranu. To mu je bila tudi osnova za nadaljnje poglobljene in primerjalne študije kot tudi za poznavanje regionalne tektonike.
1963 je bil izvoljen za izrednega člana Hrvaške (nekdanje Jugoslovanske) akademije znanosti in umetnosti, postal njen redni član 1973, bil je njen podpredsednik od 1975 do 1978, tajnik razreda za naravoslovne vede (1986–1989), urednik več publikacij, član delovnih skupin, vodja Inštituta za paleontologijo in geologijo kvartarja. Od 1977 je dopisni član Avstrijske akademije znanosti in od 1991 Slovenske akademije znanosti in umetnosti. Je tudi član domačih in mednarodnoh društev geoloških znanosti.
Prejel je državno nagrado za znanstveno delo (“Rugjer Bošković” 1968) in življenjsko delo 1979 in več državnih odlikovanj (196l, 1986, 1997). 2001 je postal zaslužni professor na zagrebški univerzi.
Med več kot 200 publikacijami so najpomembnejše:
Herak M (1943) Zur Kenntnis tradischer Kalkschwämme (Sycones). N. Jb. Min. Geol. Palaeont., (Abh.), (B), 88: 107-135.
Herak M (1947) Starost i sistematske značajke spiljskog medvjeda Hrvatske (Geological age and taxonomical characters of cave-bear of Croatia). Geol. vjesnik, 12-47.
Herak M (1951) Ladinic Dasycladaceae of Yugoslavia and their stratigraphical significance. -Bull. Intern. Acad. Yougoslav., sci. et beaux-arts 3: 51-56.
Tajder M & Herak M (1951) Petrografija i geologija. Školska knjiga, VIII+231.
Herak M (1952) Die Bedeutung der Alge Sphaerocodium Bornemanni Rothpletz fur die Interpretation der Obertrias im Gebiet von Zagorska Mrežnica. Bull. Intern. Acad. Yougosl. sci. et beaux-arts 7, 85-88.
Herak M (1953) Paleobotanika za geologe i biologe. Školska knjiga VII+160.
Herak M (1956) Geologija Samoborskog gorja (Geologie des Samoborer Gebirges). Acta geol., Jugosl. akad. znan. i umjetn., 1: 73.
Herak M (1957) Some problems in the dasyclad genus Diplopora.. Micropaleotology 3/1: 49-52.
Herak M (1960) Geologija - Struktura, dinamika i historija Zemlje. -Školska knjiga XI+433.
Herak M (1960) Calcareous algae of the Young Palaezoic and Mesozoic of Yugoslavia, and their applications in the stratigraphy. Rep. 21. Sess., Norden (Intern. Geol. Congr.), Copenhagen 6: 90-97.
Herak M & Kochansky-Devidé V (960) Gymnocodiacean calcareous algae in the Permian of Yugoslavia. Geol.. vjesnik, (1959) 13: 185-196.
Kochansky-Devidé V & Herak M (1960) On the Carboniferous and Permian Dasycladaceae of Yugoslavia. Geol. Vjesnik (1959) 13: 65-96.
Herak M (1963) Trias de Yugoslavie. In: Le Trias de la France et des regions limitrophes. Mem. Bureau Rech. Geol. Min. 15: 477-454.
Herak M (1965) Comparative study of some Triassic Dasycladaceae in Yugoslavia. Geol vjesnik (1964) 18/1: 3-34.
Herak M (1966) Die Kalkalgen in der Stratigraphie der Dinariden (Jungpaläozoikum und Mesozoikum). Mitt. Geol. Ges., Wien, 58: 10-217.
Herak M Mikulec S & Žugaj M (1968) Present and prospective water power development in the Karst of Yugoslavia. -World Power Conf. Moscow, Sec. C2, paper 158:1-29.
Herak M Bahun S & Magdalenić A (1969) Pozitivni i negativni utjecaji na razvoj krša u Hrvatskoj (Positive and negative influences on the development of the Karst in Croatia). Krš, Jugosl., akad. znan. i umjetn. 6: 45-78.
Herak M (1972) Karst of Yugoslavia. In: Karst, Important karst regions of the Northern Hemisphere, M Herak & V T Stringfield, eds, Elsevier 25-83.
Herak M (1976) The Yugoslav contribution to the knowledge of karst hydrogeology and geomorphology. Karst hydrology and water resources. Proceed. U.S.-Yugosl. Symp., Dubrovnik (1975) Water Res. Publ., Fort Collins 1: 3-30.
Herak M (1977) Tecto-genetic approach to the classification of karst terrains. Krš Jugosl. akad. znan. i umjetn., 9/4: 227-238.
Herak M Magdalenić A & Bahun S (1981) Karst hydrogeology. Pollution and water resources. Columbia Univ. Seminar Series. G. J. Halasi-Kun, edt., 14/1: 163-178.
Herak M (1986) A new concept of geotectonics of the Dinarides. Acta geol. Jugosl. akad. znan. i umjetn. 16/1: 1-42.
Herak M (1986) Geotektonski okvir zaravni u kršu (Geotectonic frame of karst plains). Simp. Inšt. za raziskovanje krasa, Slov. akad. znan. in umetn. (Postojna, 1985). Acta carsologica (1985-1986) 14/15: 13-18.
Herak M (1990) Geotectonics, karst morphology, and environmental problems. Environ. Geol. Water Sci. 14/3: 59-60.
Herak M (1991): Dinaridi - Mobilistički osvrt na genezu i strukturu (Dinarides - Mobilistic view of the genesis and structure). Acta geol. Hrv. akad. znan. i umjetn. 21/2 : 35-117.
Herak M & JURAČIĆ M (1996): Geological basis of environment protection in Croatia. Pollution and water resources. Entre for reg. studies Hung. Acad. Sci. 28 (1994): 233-259.
Herak M (1997) Croatia. Encycl. of European and Asian regional geology (E. M. Moores and W. Fairbridge, eds.). Chapman and Hall: 155-160.
Herak M (1999) Tectonic Interrelation of the Dinarides and the Southern Alps. Geol. croat. 52/1: 83-98.
Herak M (2002) Povijesni temelji hrvatske geologije. Hrv. akad. znan. umjetn., 183 p.
Herak M (2006) Medvednica - Enigmatic Zagreb Mountains (Croat. with Engl. Summ.). Croat. Acad. sci. and arts: 195 p.

(december 2011)

Milan Herak (Brašljevica in NW Croatia, March 5, 1917) geologist, DSc. Professor of geology and paleobotany (retired) University of Zagreb, Technical faculty (1952 – 1958), Faculty of natural sciences and mathematics (1958 – 1982), dean of the Faculty (1964 – 1965).
After finishing the secondary school (II Gymnasium in Zagreb) he studied (1937 – 1941)) natural sciences at the Philosophical Faculty in Zagreb, including the field practice. From the autumn 1942 till the spring 1943 he continued the post-graduate study in Vienna in the Museum of natural history and at the University where he prepared the manuscript “Zur Kenntnis triadischer Kalkschwämme (Sycones)” which was used as doctor thesis for achieving the PhD at the University of Zagreb 1943.
In the same year he started professional research activities in the Croatian geologic-palaeontologic Museum. Gradually, he published several scientific papers and was acquainted with some problems of karst areas (fossil algae, cave bear, geotectonics and hydrogeological problems). In 1952 he was elected for docent and after four years professor at the Technical faculty of the Zagreb University. In 1958 he moved to the Faculty of natural sciences and mathematics (dean 1964 – 1966). Gradually he introduced new teaching subjects (Paleobotany, Paleobiology and Geology of karst domains, hydrogeology and regional geology with geotectonics). In 1960 he established the post-graduate study of geosciences. In the meanwhile, he was the head of Gelologic-paleontological institute, the initiator (1960) of the post-graduate study, dean (1964 – 1966), mentor of many doctor-thesis, member of the University Senate, periodically the guest teacher of the Universities in Sarajevo and Beograd, had reports at the academies of sciences (Ljubljana, Beograd, Sarajevo, Bratislava, Vienna, Warsaw, etc.). In his teaching activities he published several editions of textbooks (Paleobotany 2 editions, Geology 5 editions). He actively attended several home and international Geological congresses and symposia (Zagreb, Opatija, Ljubljana, Postojna, Trieste, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Beograd, Bratislava, Copenhagen, Moscow, Montreal). He was consultant of US organisations FAO and Unesco in evaluation of hydrotechnical projects in hydrogeological karst explorations (outlets, ponors, drilling holes, catchment areas, underground water levels), first alone in Jamaica, then as the chairman of the US Working Group in the Mediterranean domains (Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Greece and Turkey). He had improved the knowledge of special karst phenomena also as consultant of ex-Yugoslav geotechnical enterprises especially concerning the storage basins and water supply in Turkey, Lebanon and Iran . This has been a basis for a more intensive and correlative karst studies and regional geotectonics.
In the Croatian (ex-Yugoslavian) Academy of sciences and arts he was elected for associate member (1963), full member (1973), vice president (1975 – 1978), Secretary of the Department of natural sciences (1986 -. 1989), editor of different publications, member of working groups, Chairman of the Institute for paleontology and geology of the Quaternary. Since 1977 he is corresponding member Austrian Academy of Sciences and since 1991 of Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (1991). He is also the member of home and international geoscietific societies.
He gained State prizes for scientific work (“Rugjer Bošković” 1968, in 1976 for “life work” 1979) and different state orders (196l, 1986, 1997). In 2001 he was elected for “Professor emeritus” at University of Zagreb
Among more then 200 publications the most characteristic are:
Herak M (1943) Zur Kenntnis tradischer Kalkschwämme (Sycones). N. Jb. Min. Geol. Palaeont., (Abh.), (B), 88: 107-135.
Herak M (1947) Starost i sistematske značajke spiljskog medvjeda Hrvatske (Geological age and taxonomical characters of cave-bear of Croatia). Geol. vjesnik, 12-47.
Herak M (1951) Ladinic Dasycladaceae of Yugoslavia and their stratigraphical significance. -Bull. Intern. Acad. Yougoslav., sci. et beaux-arts 3: 51-56.
Tajder M & Herak M (1951) Petrografija i geologija. Školska knjiga, VIII+231.
Herak M (1952) Die Bedeutung der Alge Sphaerocodium Bornemanni Rothpletz fur die Interpretation der Obertrias im Gebiet von Zagorska Mrežnica. Bull. Intern. Acad. Yougosl. sci. et beaux-arts 7, 85-88.
Herak M (1953) Paleobotanika za geologe i biologe. Školska knjiga VII+160.
Herak M (1956) Geologija Samoborskog gorja (Geologie des Samoborer Gebirges). Acta geol., Jugosl. akad. znan. i umjetn., 1: 73.
Herak M (1957) Some problems in the dasyclad genus Diplopora.. Micropaleotology 3/1: 49-52.
Herak M (1960) Geologija - Struktura, dinamika i historija Zemlje. -Školska knjiga XI+433.
Herak M (1960) Calcareous algae of the Young Palaezoic and Mesozoic of Yugoslavia, and their applications in the stratigraphy. Rep. 21. Sess., Norden (Intern. Geol. Congr.), Copenhagen 6: 90-97.
Herak M & Kochansky-Devidé V (960) Gymnocodiacean calcareous algae in the Permian of Yugoslavia. Geol.. vjesnik, (1959) 13: 185-196.
Kochansky-Devidé V & Herak M (1960) On the Carboniferous and Permian Dasycladaceae of Yugoslavia. Geol. Vjesnik (1959) 13: 65-96.
Herak M (1963) Trias de Yugoslavie. In: Le Trias de la France et des regions limitrophes. Mem. Bureau Rech. Geol. Min. 15: 477-454.
Herak M (1965) Comparative study of some Triassic Dasycladaceae in Yugoslavia. Geol vjesnik (1964) 18/1: 3-34.
Herak M (1966) Die Kalkalgen in der Stratigraphie der Dinariden (Jungpaläozoikum und Mesozoikum). Mitt. Geol. Ges., Wien, 58: 10-217.
Herak M Mikulec S & Žugaj M (1968) Present and prospective water power development in the Karst of Yugoslavia. -World Power Conf. Moscow, Sec. C2, paper 158:1-29.
Herak M Bahun S & Magdalenić A (1969) Pozitivni i negativni utjecaji na razvoj krša u Hrvatskoj (Positive and negative influences on the development of the Karst in Croatia). Krš, Jugosl., akad. znan. i umjetn. 6: 45-78.
Herak M (1972) Karst of Yugoslavia. In: Karst, Important karst regions of the Northern Hemisphere, M Herak & V T Stringfield, eds, Elsevier 25-83.
Herak M (1976) The Yugoslav contribution to the knowledge of karst hydrogeology and geomorphology. Karst hydrology and water resources. Proceed. U.S.-Yugosl. Symp., Dubrovnik (1975) Water Res. Publ., Fort Collins 1: 3-30.
Herak M (1977) Tecto-genetic approach to the classification of karst terrains. Krš Jugosl. akad. znan. i umjetn., 9/4: 227-238.
Herak M Magdalenić A & Bahun S (1981) Karst hydrogeology. Pollution and water resources. Columbia Univ. Seminar Series. G. J. Halasi-Kun, edt., 14/1: 163-178.
Herak M (1986) A new concept of geotectonics of the Dinarides. Acta geol. Jugosl. akad. znan. i umjetn. 16/1: 1-42.
Herak M (1986) Geotektonski okvir zaravni u kršu (Geotectonic frame of karst plains). Simp. Inšt. za raziskovanje krasa, Slov. akad. znan. in umetn. (Postojna, 1985). Acta carsologica (1985-1986) 14/15: 13-18.
Herak M (1990) Geotectonics, karst morphology, and environmental problems. Environ. Geol. Water Sci. 14/3: 59-60.
Herak M (1991): Dinaridi - Mobilistički osvrt na genezu i strukturu (Dinarides - Mobilistic view of the genesis and structure). Acta geol. Hrv. akad. znan. i umjetn. 21/2 : 35-117.
Herak M & JURAČIĆ M (1996): Geological basis of environment protection in Croatia. Pollution and water resources. Entre for reg. studies Hung. Acad. Sci. 28 (1994): 233-259.
Herak M (1997) Croatia. Encycl. of European and Asian regional geology (E. M. Moores and W. Fairbridge, eds.). Chapman and Hall: 155-160.
Herak M (1999) Tectonic Interrelation of the Dinarides and the Southern Alps. Geol. croat. 52/1: 83-98.
Herak M (2002) Povijesni temelji hrvatske geologije. Hrv. akad. znan. umjetn., 183 p.
Herak M (2006) Medvednica - Enigmatic Zagreb Mountains (Croat. with Engl. Summ.). Croat. Acad. sci. and arts: 195 p.

(August 2010)