SAMEC, Maks

After graduation at classical gymnasium in Ljubljana in 1899, S. studied natural sciences (mathematics, physics with meteorology and chemistry) in Vienna. Following his doctor's degree in organic chemistry in 1904 he was employed as a meteorologist, and investigated lighting conditions at various altitudes, and for this he flew in a balloon.
Afterwards he started to teach at the Realschule and simultaneously volunteered to work at organic chemistry laboratories of a number of famous scientists in Vienna, particularly that of W. Pauli. Early on, he focused his research on colloid chemistry and by the outbreak of WWI had gained an international reputation in this field. During the war, he first established a meteorology service on the southeast section of the Austrian battlefields and later – being a ballooner – he was trained for a reconnaissance work. He participated in eleven combat flights and was shot in the lungs during the last of these. After making a recovery he headed the aviation station in Vienna and was awarded the Knight's Cross for his war service.
In 1919 he accepted the invitation of a newly-founded University of Ljubljana where he became a full professor. He started practically from scratch and by the beginning of WWII had managed to raise the quality of chemistry study in Ljubljana to meet international standards. In the department he simultaneously developed the institute research activities, known abroad as »the Samec school«.
Between the two world wars his research was mainly focused on the chemistry of starch, and he introduced new research methods, including electrodialysis. He was the first to break starch into two major components – amylase and amylopectin – and explain its molecular structure.
After WWII S. quit his teaching career and invested his efforts into the establishment of the Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana; he managed its construction and operation until 1959 when he retired. The last years of his active life he dedicated his research into lignite and brown coal coking. In addition he was one of the pioneers in the fields of microbiology and ecology. S. was a full member of the Slovenian Academy of Science and Arts and the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (Halle).