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It has been reported that James Lovelock has passed away today, on his 103rd birthday.
Sir Adrian Smith FRS, President, Royal Society, said:
“James Lovelock was an extraordinary man and an outstanding scientist. Celebrated for his work on ecological systems, he also made pioneering contributions in fields as disparate as the transmission of respiratory infections, new methods for monitoring pollution, and the freezing, and preserving, of organic matter.
“It was his work on the Gaia hypothesis, and the passionate and intelligent way he communicated this complex work to a wider audience, that he is best known for. He remained a passionate advocate for action to address climate change and biodiversity loss throughout his life.
“On behalf of the Fellowship of the Royal Society, I offer my condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Prof Richard Betts, Head of Climate Impacts Research, Met Office Hadley Centre, said:
“I am devastated by Jim’s death. He was a source of inspiration to me for my entire career, and in fact his first book on Gaia was a major reason why I chose to work on climate change and Earth system modelling. I feel deeply privileged to have come to know him and work with him over the years. Jim’s influence is widespread, profound and long-lasting. He will be remembered for his warm, fun-loving personality, his truly innovative thinking, his clarity of communication, his willingness to take bold risks in developing his ideas, and his abilities to bring people together and learn from them. My deepest sympathy to Sandy and the rest of Jim’s family. Rest in Gaia, Jim, you will be missed.”
Dr Roger Highfield, Science Director, Science Museum Group, said:
“Jim was a nonconformist who had a unique vantage point that came from being, as he put it, half scientist and half inventor. Endless ideas bubbled forth from this synergy between making and thinking.
“Although he is most associated with Gaia, he did an extraordinary range of research, from freezing hamsters to detecting life on Mars, popularised his ideas in many books, and he was more than happy to bristle a few feathers, whether by articulating his dislike of consensus views, formal education and committees, or by voicing his enthusiastic support for nuclear power.”
Sir Ian Blatchford, Director, Science Museum Group, said:
“The Science Museum held a special place in Jim’s life and I believe his significant research is an extraordinary testament to the power of museums to inspire young people. Thanks to our acquisition of his archive, his work will continue to inspire the scientists and inventors of the future.
“On behalf of colleagues across the Science Museum Group, we wish to send his wife, Sandy, and family our deepest condolences.”
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