The Passing of Our Dear Colleague

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Dr Jeroen Ensink, SHARE Capacity Director and Senior Lecturer in Public Health Engineering at LSHTM, died on Tuesday 29 December 2015. Jeroen was an internationally renowned water engineer and dedicated humanitarian. He was passionately committed to a simple cause: improving access to water and sanitation in countries where children continue to die needlessly due to the lack of these basic services.

As a researcher and educator, Jeroen’s career crossed many continents. He lived and worked in countries including Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Tanzania and Malawi, and collaborated with numerous universities and international agencies. His own research was rigorous but always practical. He published over 50 scientific papers and, at the time of his death, was leading a large study in the Democratic Republic of Congo to understand how improvements in water supply and other measures could control and prevent cholera outbreaks.

Professor Sandy Cairncross, SHARE Research Director, said: “Jeroen devoted particular effort to building local research capacity in developing countries. At SHARE, he worked tirelessly with our partners to support the development of early and mid-career scientists and to expand the capacity of research institutions to effectively conduct and disseminate their research. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and worked with him and SHARE will endeavour to continue his legacy through our capacity development activities.”

Jeroen was a natural teacher, and immensely popular with students in whom he invested much time and energy. He was Course Director on LSHTM’s Master’s degree in Public Health in Developing Countries. He provided support and inspiration in equal measure and many of his students are now successful researchers and public health professionals in their own right.

LSHTM’s Director Professor Peter Piot said: “This is a terrible tragedy, and our deepest condolences go to his family and friends. Jeroen was a highly valued member of the School community and all of us who knew him will remember him as a warm and committed friend and colleague. He will be hugely missed by all the staff and students who had the opportunity to know and work with him, and it is now up to all of us to ensure that the legacy of his work will continue.”

LSHTM and SHARE have received tributes from his many collaborators, including the Department for International Development, WaterAid, Catholic Relief Services and others. At the request of Jeroen’s family and colleagues, LSHTM has established the Jeroen Ensink Memorial Fund to support MSc Scholarships for students from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia to become future leaders in public health.

As a further testimony to Jeroen’s scientific contribution, WaterLines, a major journal in this field, will publish a collection of dedicated papers in April and announce an annual prize in his memory.

Those who would like to make a gift can do so here (US tax payers may contribute to the fund through the American Friends of LSHTM). Alternatively you can make a donation by cheque (further details available here).

All messages for the family may be sent c/o Gemma Donaldson, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, or by email at gemma.donaldson@lshtm.ac.uk.