Since 1954, when he was employed at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb, Prof. Marko Branica's life motto was that the Adriatic Sea is of the greatest importance for Croatia and its future. He understood that an effort must be made to provide appropriate education to coming generations of marine scientists. As early as 1971, he organized a postgraduate study in Oceanology at the University of Zagreb of which he was the head from the beginning, and in 35 years of its existence more than 200 students received their training and master’s degrees by taking this course. At that time, very few such courses, if any, existed in the Mediterranean region. Currently, the course is being reorganized into a doctoral curriculum at the University of Zagreb.
Following his visions, in 1972 he founded and directed a new department of the Ruđer Bošković Institute - Center for Marine Research (now Division for Marine and Environmental Research in Zagreb and Center for Marine Research in Rovinj). Furthermore, in 1980 Marko initiated the construction and founding of the Research station Martinska in Šibenik (Croatian middle Adriatic coast), as the Marine research facility of the Ruđer Bošković Institute. He coordinated the project of research and environmental protection of the Adriatic Sea and the relevant international research contracts. Marko Branica dedicated over four decades of research to aquatic sciences, addressing the key issues and shaping the agenda in environmental chemistry. Along with other scientific interests, in 1967 he introduced polarographic analysis of seawater samples and thus became the first marine electrochemist. This was widely recognized by the international scientific community.
As he used to emphasize, it is of great importance that young people engaged in science communicate with the world scientific community, go out into the world, follow current achievements, interconnect with representatives of excellence. Since this is not always possible, excellence will be brought to Croatia. Marko Branica is known for bringing together scientists from different countries. Since 1970 he organized scientific meetings biennially in Croatia, in a series of 14 meetings which became known as the Chemistry of the Mediterranean International Symposia. These conferences attracted attention of both young researchers and prominent scientists in a unique combination of high-level marine science and ample possibilities for discussion and social interaction between young and senior researchers, in a truly "summer- school" atmosphere.
Marko Branica devoted a lot of time to international advisory and organizational activities. As an expert of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for nuclear materials and nuclear plants safety problems, he paid multiple visits to Brazil (1972, 1975 and 1979) and Peru (1973). As a UNESCO expert, he developed the research programs for chemical oceanography in Athens and Paris (1978) and the United Nation Agency development program for the Oceanographic Institute in Athens (Greece). Much of his energy was also devoted to the activities of the International Commission for Scientific Research of the Mediterranean Sea (CIESM). In a period of 25 years, from 1970 to 1995, Marko presided over several mandates over the CIESM Chemical Oceanography Committee. When Croatia became a member of this organization in In 1992, he became the first Croatian national delegate.
Dr. Marko Branica mentored 27 doctoral and numerous master's and graduate theses, published 250 papers and 9 patents, which made him one of the most cited marine chemists. The impact of his research was also recognized by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, awarding him the Heineken Prize for the Environment in 1992. Dr. Branica’s overall work has had a significant influence on aquatic, marine and environmental chemistry worldwide. Marko Branica - List of publications