27 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® In Memoriam Professor Rolf Emmermann (1940~2026) GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ) and the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) are mourning the July 10, 2026, passing of Professor Rolf Emmermann, Founding Director of GFZ, Founding Chairman of ICDP, and distinguished geoscientist. He played a pivotal role in establishing continental scientific drilling as a powerful tool for exploring the earth and was one of the most influential figures of his time in geoscience worldwide. Rolf Emmermann was born in 1940, in Wolfenbüttel, Germany. He studied mineralogy, crystallography, and geochemistry at the universities of Braunschweig, Frankfurt am Main, and Munich, then earned his doctorate at the University of Karlsruhe. He took on a position as professor at the Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1974 and, in 1981, he moved to the Chair of Mineralogy and Petrology at the University of Giessen, where he conducted research and taught for almost 25 years. From 1992 to 2007, he was the Scientific Executive Director at GFZ. Since 2007, Professor Emmermann was a member of the Brandenburg State Higher Education Council and served as its chair from 2011 to 2015. In recognition of his tremendous dedication, he received numerous awards over the years. GFZ named its most prestigious award for service to the center after him: the Rolf Emmermann Medal. Professor Emmermann is survived by his wife, three children, and nine grandchildren. Thomas A. “Tom” Thurber (1943~2026) Thomas A. “Tom” Thurber of Jamestown, Pennsylvania, passed away August 4, 2026. Born in 1943, Tom graduated from Jamestown High School in 1962. He retired as owner/operator of Thurber Wells and Pumps, having previously been employed by Lininger Well Drilling, in Greenville, for 40 years. A member of Jamestown United Methodist Church, Tom was also a member of Hartstown Pump House #45, past member of the Jamestown Fireman’s Club, and served on the Jamestown Borough Council in the 1980s. He was a former Cub Scout Master and Scout Master. Camping, hunting, and spending time with family were what he enjoyed the most. Tom married Kay in 1961; she survives. Also surviving are his daughter Karen (Jon); son Jeff; brother Si (Rosemarie); grandchildren Christina, Alex (Samantha), Rebecca (Jacob), Benjamin (Maddy), Greg, Gabby (Erin), Julia (Dalton); and six great-grandchildren. The management and staff of WWDR extend their condolences to the family, friends, and former colleagues of these drilling industry gentlemen. Lest we forget . . . Exploring for Heat from Below Adapted from Information by the Radoszyce Municipality The Radoszyce Municipality in Poland, received financial support from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management for their Radoszyce GT-1 project. The goal of the project is geothermal exploration, a strategic step toward sustainable development and energy security using a clean, renewable energy source. Having obtained the necessary documentation and investment contractors, preparations have been made to start drilling in search of geothermal waters. UOS Drilling S.A. from Warsaw, will be constructing and drilling the wells used for the project, while PROINSOL Limited Liability Company from Krakow will act as consulting engineer, supervising the exploration. Radoszyce GT-1 project will explore to a depth of about 4462 feet. The project was possible due to the previous Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship openings having already tested the aquifer levels of the lower triassic, a system of rocks marked by the first appearance of the dinosaurs. As a result, the project is expected to obtain water with temperatures of about 104-113ºF (40-45ºC). This could generate about 0.80 megawatts of geothermal energy. The opening will be made in the vicinity of the Antonian floodplain, and will be able to be used as an operating hole for thermal waters from the lower triassic. After completing research for the project, implementation of a geothermal heating plant and tourist destinations are planned for the area. This project is not only another infrastructure investment, but can become one of the pillars of development for the Radoszyce Municipality. The geothermal project is also a step forward in modern clean energy, economic development, and new jobs. Innovative solutions and bold decisions today build a better future for tomorrow.
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