With deep sorrow, we regret to report the passed of our director Daniel Gómez, who passed away yesterday at the age of 65.

Daniel was a professor at the Department of Physics at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and a principal investigator at CONICET.

An internationally recognized specialist in plasma physics and passionate about numerical modeling, Daniel obtained his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in Physics at the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences at the UBA and since his insertion as a researcher at the IAFE he demonstrated an immense commitment to the development of astrophysics and space physics in our country and, beyond his field of interest, to national science and public education.

In 2017 he received the José Luis Sersic award from the Argentine Astronomy Association and the “Abdus Salam Spirit Award” awarded by the International Center for Theoretical Physics (CETP), being the first Latin American physicist to receive this distinction that highlights those who promote the development of science and technology in their countries.

In 2019, he was appointed Director of IAFE, a position he held until his passed. During this period, Daniel gave his best to ensure that IAFE remained a reference center in space physics and astrophysics at national, regional and international levels. But Daniel also always maintained a strong commitment to Human Rights. A clear example was his effort to obtain the restitution of the file of Alicia Cardoso, a geology student and IAFE technician kidnapped and murdered by the civil-military dictatorship in 1977. Thanks to his efforts, there is currently a tile that remembers her on the sidewalk of our Institute.

During the last year, Daniel actively participated in the Raicyt network of institute directors fighting against the fall of the national budget for science and technology.

His colleagues and friends highlight Daniel’s human and ethical dimension as well as his commitment to the training of new scientists. All of us who shared moments with him will have him as a model of work, conduct and commitment. Farewell, Daniel.