On September 8, Dr. Carlo Mariani passed away. He was undoubtedly one of the leading figures in the field of lipid analysis. Dr. Mariani spent almost his entire career at the Experimental Station for the Oil and Fat Industries (now Innovhub) in Milan, where he joined at a very young age. It can be said that his career coincided with the modern history of analytical chemistry applied to fatty substances.
He had many insights that led to the development of analytical methods still in use today, methods that he defended strenuously with his sharp mind and tireless energy in the international forums where they were presented.
Internationally, both at the International Olive Council and at the EU, he always made a major contribution to the development of analytical approaches that could guarantee the quality and authenticity of edible oils and fats, with particular attention to olive oils, highlighting the limitations and sometimes the errors inherent in certain methods, which could lead to incorrect interpretations of the analytical data.
Scientific leadership can be achieved in many ways, certainly by gaining authority through in-depth knowledge, but this could remain a cold ‘technocratic’ approach
Dr. Mariani, on the other hand, stood out for his passion for his work, one might almost say “love,” which drove him to be extremely helpful to anyone who submitted a scientific problem to him. It was quite normal for technicians from companies in the oil and fats sector to arrive at his laboratory in the morning and leave in the evening with a solution in their pocket or at least with a comprehensive explanation.
All this did not make him a solitary person. Everyone who met him has fond memories of the evenings after meetings, from the early years of the SISSG Congresses to the Capillary Gas Chromatography Congresses in Riva del Garda and the meetings of chemists in Madrid or Brussels.
Dr. Mariani will be missed by many, not only for his expertise but also for his humanity.
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