It is with heavy hearts that we pay tribute to the re- markable life and contributions of academician Andrej Kranjc, a visionary geographer, karstologist, long-time editor of Acta Carsologica, our colleague and friend. On January 7th 2023, Andrej left us in his eightieth year, leav- ing an indelible mark on Slovenian karstology. Andrej's passion for caving was awakened as a high school student. His journey into caves and karst research began in 1965, as a student of geography and archaeol- ogy, he helped organise the International Speleologi- cal Congress. This brought him into contact with the researchers at the Karst Research Institute in Postojna and eventually led to him becoming their co-worker. Throughout his academic career, he was guided and inspired by academician Ivan Gams. Andrej’s expertise spanned the entire range of karstology and included spe- leology, geomorphology, hydrology, terminology and the history of karst research, which he continued to deal with after his retirement. In 1977 he obtained the master's degree with a thesis on the karst area of Dolenjska. He determined the stages of karst and cave development depending on the direc- tion and type of water drainage. In 1987, he received his PhD with a study on the transport of allogenic sediments in the Kras aquifer, and the determination of the origin and role of fluvial sediments in speleogenesis. Similar studies had already been carried out abroad, but in Slo- venia this type of work was considered ground-breaking and formed the basis for later studies on speleogenesis and cave sediments. Andrej also dealt with flooding in karst areas, es- pecially in Kočevje Polje, Cerknica Polje and along the rivers Reka and Pivka. In these studies he discusses the flooding mechanism and the hydrological and pedologi- cal characteristics of the areas. The work has been useful for many other researches related to the effects of floods on the life and activities of the population, to regulation and melioration measures, and to the evaluation of the damages caused by floods. In addition, Andrej published several regional spe- leological and karstological studies at home and abroad. Initially studies of individual caves resulted from his work on the Basic speleological map of Slovenia. He later paid special attention to ecological issues, the vulnerabil- ity and preservation of karst, and the use of its resources. He devoted himself to the Škocjan Caves and their pro- IN MEMORIAM ANDREJ KRANJC (1943-2023) (Photo: S. Jeršič) ACTA CARSOLOGICA 52/1, 5-7, POSTOJNA 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v52i1.13434 tection, the history of karst research and the develop- ment of karstology. In particular, he studied the works of Valvasor, Hacquet, Martel and others. Andrej remained a researcher at the Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU until his retirement in 2010. For eight years, between 1988 and 1995, he was the Insti- tute’s head. Together with his wife Maja, who managed the institute's library with tireless dedication, they were the heart of the institute. Early in his tenure at the In- stitute, in 1972, Andrej established contacts with promi- nent French karstologists who introduced him to new research approaches. These connections developed into lifelong friendships and collaborations. Andrej's sphere of influence expanded worldwide as he established con- nections with leading karstologists around the world. Through these connections, many of them visited Posto- jna and became prominent ambassadors for the Slove- nian Karst and the Institute. Andrej's adventurous spirit went beyond borders, as he explored karst landscapes on all inhabited continents. He was aware that karst cannot be learned from literature alone, but must be seen and experienced in nature. His travels were more than mere journeys, they were living encounters with the world. Andrej's inexhaustible enthu- siasm and energy during these journeys were an inspira- tion to all who accompanied him. Andrej was editor-in-chief of Acta Carsologica for seventeen years (1993 – 2010), when the journal gained international recognition. It was included in many in- ternational databases, including SCI, and became the world's leading karstological journal, providing karst enthusiasts with an international platform for presenting results of multidisciplinary research. In addition, Andrej was editor-in-chief (1991–1993) of the central Slovenian geographical journal Geographical Bulletin (Geografski vestnik) and a member of the editorial boards of numer- ous domestic and foreign journals. He was also co-author and editor of several other monographs. Among Andrej's legacies were the pioneering efforts to establish a doctoral programme in karstology. This venture, launched at the Faculty of Humanities in Koper and later at the University of Nova Gorica, has gained in- ternational recognition and became a UNESCO educa- tion chair. The programme has already produced nearly thirty PhD students from all over the world. Andrej's administrative leadership and substantive contributions were crucial in shaping this initiative and earned him the title of Professor Emeritus at the University of Nova Gorica. Andrej was a dedicated mentor to both students and colleagues, providing them with open-hearted and un- wavering support on their academic and personal jour- neys. He supervised a number of theses and six disserta- tions by doctoral students from around the world. On the joint initiative of the Karst Research Institute headed by Andrej and the Slovenian National Commis- sion for UNESCO, the Institute organised the first In- ternational Karstological School in 1993. This event has since become the most important annual gathering of karst scientists, celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this year. Throughout his illustrious career, Andrej has held numerous roles in different councils, expert groups, proj- ect coordination, which benefited from his extensive ex- IN MEMORIAM In a salt cave on Qeshm Island, Iran (Photo: F. Gabrovšek) ACTA CARSOLOGICA 52/1 – 20236 pertise, reliability and gentle leadership style. Andrej has received several awards for his achievements, including the Prešeren Prize for Students and the Golden Plaque, as well as the Anton Melik Prize of the Association of Slovenian Geographers, to name a few. We bid farewell to a mentor, colleague and friend of profound wisdom and boundless compassion. He ex- emplified a rare breed of people who not only imparted knowledge but also ignited a passion for learning in the younger generation. Andrej's legacy is interwoven with those closest to him — his wife Maja and son. We of- fer them our deepest condolences on the loss of husband and father. Franci Gabrovšek and Nataša Ravbar ANDREJ KRANJC (1943-2023) ACTA CARSOLOGICA 52/1 – 2023 7