Dénes Berényi, nuclear physicist, former president of the Institute of Nuclear Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences passed away in his 84th year.
The professor, as an internationally recognized expert achieved significant results in the research of the following phenomena: particle capture, internal braking radiation and internal conversion.
Dénes Berényi was born in Debrecen, 1928. He graduated as a physicist at Kossuth Lajos University of Sciences in 1953. He received the title of candidate of physics in 1963; he became the doctor of physical sciences in 1969.
He was a corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences from 1973, from 1985 a full member. Between 1990 and 1993 he worked as the vice-president of the Academic Committee of Debrecen, from 1993 to 1999 as the president. He was the first president of the Department of International Relations between 1996 and 2006. From 1954 he was a research worker in the Nuclear Research Institute of Debrecen; between 1976 and 1990 he led the institution as a president, from 1991 he continued his work as a research professor.
Besides his scientific researches he gave lectures at Kosstuh Lajos University of Sciences for decades: in 1952-54 as an assistant lecturer, in 1966-74 as a titular reader, from 1974 as a titular academic lecturer. As the president of the Centenary Committee, he gained imperishable merits in the preparation of the jubilee course of events of University of Debrecen.
Dénes Berényi was the vice-president of the International Symposium on Radiation Physics between 1985 and 1999; from 1992 he was a member of the Academia Europaea (London). He was also the president of the Domus Hungarica Scientiarum et Artium Board Of Trustees and the Apáczai Community Foundation Board of Trustees.
His merits in research, lecturing, domestic and international scientific work were highly respected; he was awarded with the Academic Award, State Award, the title of freeman of Debrecen, medal of Pro-Scientia, Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (Commander’s Cross with star).
A planetoid was named after him, called 5694 Berenyi.
He was buried in Debrecen on 5th July, 2012.
