The research fields in which Professor Maksić achieved significant results include molecular physics, theoretical and computational chemistry. He worked on modeling hybridization in molecules, the problem of electronic correlation in quantum chemistry, the nature of the chemical bond, the chemistry of acids and bases, the design of new molecules with targeted properties, which are only some of the topics at the center of his interest. The long list of publications in leading international journals testifies to his scientific excellence and his dedicated and continuous work. Such dedication required true passion and scientific curiosity, which stayed with him until the last days of his life.
He joined the Ruđer Bošković Institute in 1962, after graduating in theoretical physics from the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. He received his PhD in 1968 under the supervision of Milan Randić, working on the problem of hybridization in organic molecules with high angular strain. After a few years, he went on postdoctoral training to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with John Bloor, and from 1972 to 1973 he spent time at the University of Texas in Austin, working with Michael J. S. Dewar. After returning to Croatia in 1973, he became a Research Associate at the Ruđer Bošković Institute and in 1975 an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb.
Until his retirement in 2004, he worked at both institutions, successfully combining highly productive scientific research with teaching duties and responsibilities in undergraduate and postgraduate programs. He founded the Quantum Organic Chemistry Group at the Division of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Ruđer Bošković Institute. After his retirement, he continued his scientific research with the same enthusiasm, as evidenced by the steady pace of his publications. In 2005, he was elected Distinguished Scientist of the Ruđer Bošković Institute.
He was the recipient of several important awards and recognitions: the City of Zagreb Award for outstanding scientific achievements in 1976, the Republic Award "Ruđer Bošković" for scientific work in 1987, the Medal of the Department of Chemistry of the Faculty of Science in 2005, the State Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Natural Sciences in 2008, and a plaque "for his pioneering contribution to the understanding of the chemical bond" on the occasion of the prestigious Charles A. Coulson Lecture he gave in Athens at the University of Georgia in 2008.
As the recipient of the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt fellowship, he spent the period from 1979 to 1981 as Visiting Professor at the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the University of Heidelberg. He also worked as Visiting Professor and scientist at the University of Münster, at the University of Cantoblanco in Madrid, and delivered invited lectures at many other universities and institutes across Europe and beyond. Professor Maksić was President of the Croatian Chemical Society (1988 to 1990), Head of the Department of Chemistry at the Ruđer Bošković Institute (1995 to 1997), Deputy Director of the Institute (1997 to 1999), and a member of the Institute’s Governing Board for two terms.
He promoted the honorary doctorate honoris causa for double Nobel Prize laureate Linus Pauling in 1988 at the University of Zagreb. Among his important achievements is also his "Appeal for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Stability in the Balkans," written in May 1992 and signed by 84 Nobel laureates, including Abdus Salam as the first signatory, Vladimir Prelog, Linus Pauling, with whom Professor Maksić shared a long-standing collegial friendship, and many others.
During his impressive 48-year scientific career, Professor Maksić published more than 250 original scientific articles, 23 review papers and book chapters, which were cited over 3,500 times. He authored two books: "Quantum Chemistry" (Liber, Zagreb, 1976) and "Symmetry in Chemistry" (Školska knjiga, Zagreb, 1979, co-authored with N. Trinajstić and L. Klasinc).
He sought to pass on his enthusiasm, creativity, perseverance, and scientific excellence to students and younger colleagues, which resulted in a large number of successfully defended diploma, master’s, and doctoral theses.
He organized international scientific conferences in Croatia and abroad, was a member of the editorial boards of respected scientific journals, and edited book series including "Modelling of Structure and Properties of Molecules" in 1987, "Theoretical Models of Chemical Bonding" (4 volumes, 1990–91), and together with P. Politzer, the series "Theoretical and Computational Chemistry" (16 volumes) from 1994 onwards.
"It is usually said that science has no homeland because it is universal and a common good of all humankind. But scientists do have their homeland! Therefore, this highest recognition on behalf of the Republic of Croatia, which we have received today, fills us with feelings of pride and happiness" – from the speech of Professor Zvonimir Maksić, delivered as the joint address of all laureates at the State Science Awards ceremony in 2009, when he received the State Award for Lifetime Achievement.
