Rob Blokzijl
{{Short description|Dutch physicist and computer scientist}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Rob Blokzijl
|image = Asscher-Blokzijl.jpg
|image_size =
|caption = Acting Mayor Lodewijk Asscher (left) and Rob Blokzijl at the awarding of Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau.
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1943|10|21}}
|birth_place = Amsterdam, Netherlands
|death_date ={{Death date and age|df=yes|2015|12|1|1943|10|21}}
|death_place = Roggel, Netherlands
|nationality = Dutch
|known_for = founding member of RIPE
|education =
|alma_mater = University of Amsterdam
|occupation =
|website =
}}
Robert "Rob" Blokzijl (21 October 1943 – 1 December 2015) was a Dutch physicist and computer scientist at the National Institute for Subatomic Physics (NIKHEF), and an early internet pioneer.Olivier Martin. The “Hidden” Prehistory of European Research Networking. 2012. p.50Monique Doppert (2013). Internetpioniers: De eerste internetgeneratie. He was founding member and chairman of RIPE, the Réseaux IP Européens (French translation of: Europeans IP Networks), the European Internet Registrar organisation.
Life and work
Born in Amsterdam, Blokzijl graduated from the University of Amsterdam in 1970, and received a doctorate in experimental physics from the same university in 1977.[http://albumacademicum.uva.nl/id/id040420 R. Blokzijl, 1943 -] at the University of Amsterdam Album Academicum website
Blokzijl had been active in building networks for the particle physics community in Europe. He was founding member and chairman of NIKHEF, the National Institute for Nuclear and High energy physics in the Netherlands.[http://www.ripe.net/ripe/about/ripe-chair RIPE Chairman Emeritus] Created: Oct 2010 - Last updated: 11 Jun 2014 — RIPE. At the Réseaux IP Européens (RIPE), the European open forum for IP networking, he was spokesperson at its foundation in 1989 and later chaired this forum. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC) in 1992 as the first regional Internet registry (RIR) in the world. In 1999 he also was selected for the ICANN Board by the Address Supporting Organization, where he served until December 2002. In 2013 Blokzijl announced his resignation as chairman of RIPE, as per RIPE 68, after being in this position for 25 years. He appointed Hans Petter Holen as his successor.[https://www.ripe.net/internet-coordination/news/about-ripe-ncc-and-ripe/ripe-chair-dr-rob-blokzijl-announces-retirement RIPE Chair Dr. Rob Blokzijl Announces Retirement], Publication date: 22 Oct 2013
In 2010 Blokzijl was awarded Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau. He received this Royal Honour from Lodewijk Asscher, the Acting Mayor of Amsterdam.[http://www.ripe.net/news/2010-blokzijl-royal-recognition.html Rob Blokzijl Receives Royal Recognition for his Work as an Internet Pioneer] Publication date: 13 May 2010 At the 93rd IETF meeting in 2015, Blokzijl was awarded the ISOC Jonathan B. Postel Service Award.{{cite news|title=Rob Blokzijl Receives 2015 Jonathan B. Postel Service Award|url=http://www.internetsociety.org/news/rob-blokzijl-receives-2015-jonathan-b-postel-service-award|publisher=Internet Society|date=23 July 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723173115/http://www.internetsociety.org/news/rob-blokzijl-receives-2015-jonathan-b-postel-service-award|archivedate=23 July 2015}}
He died on 1 December 2015, aged 72.{{cite web|url=https://www.ripe.net/participate/ripe/rob-blokzijl-obituary|title=Rob Blokzijl Obituary|publisher=}}
On 1 December 2016, the RIPE NCC established the Rob Blokzijl Foundation to honour Rob's legacy by recognising and rewarding individuals who make substantial contributions to the development of the internet in the RIPE NCC service region.{{cite web|url= https://www.ripe.net/participate/ripe/rob-blokzijl-foundation|title=Rob Blokzijl Foundation|publisher=}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://icannwiki.org/Rob_Blokzijl ICANNWiki entry on Robert Blokzijl]
- [https://livestream.com/internetsociety/IETF93AdministrativePlenary/videos/93880519 VIDEO of Postel Award announcement] 23 July 2015
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Category:20th-century Dutch physicists
Category:Dutch computer scientists
Category:University of Amsterdam alumni
Category:Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau