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Dedication to Neil William Foster
Forest Ecology and Management 220 (2005) vi www.elsevier.com/locate/foreco
Dedication to Neil William Foster
Neil William Foster (November 7, 1945–July 5, 2005) We dedicate these pages to the memory of Neil W. Foster, one of the world’s premier scientists in the field of forest soils. More than a colleague, Neil was a dear friend with an immense capacity for integrative science that began with soils and extended to ecosystems and societal concerns. His forestry education included a B.Sc.F. degree from the University of Toronto, an M.S. from the University of Washington, and a Ph.D. from the University of Guelph. His 37-year career with the Canadian Forest Service at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario included sabbaticals with the Faculty of Forestry, University of New Brunswick. He was an active
0378-1127/$ – see front matter doi:10.1016/S0378-1127(05)00700-0
member of the Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut Forestier du Canada (Central Ontario Section Council Member and Secretary), Canadian Soil Science Society, and the Soil Science Society of America (Chair and Board Representative for the Forest and Range Soils Division). He served as Associate Editor of the Canadian Journal of Forest Research and was scientific advisor to the Ontario government on environmental impacts of air pollution and timber harvesting. In 1992 he was awarded the Government of Canada Commendation for Scientific Excellence. Dr. Foster’s career began with forest fertilization research and expanded to the impacts of harvesting on nutrient cycling and to the effects of atmospheric deposition on site productivity. A major achievement was the co-founding of the Turkey Lakes Watershed Study, Canada’s stellar watershed research program and among the leading interdisciplinary studies in the world. Ecosystem processes research at Turkey Lakes is Canada’s contribution to the Integrated Monitoring Program of the European Economic Commission. Neil’s research at Turkey Lakes contributed to the development and signing of the 1991 Canada–U.S. Air Quality Agreement, and for this he was awarded an Environment Canada citation. His work here and elsewhere led to Canadian federal involvement in the North America Long-Term Soil Productivity Cooperative Research Program. His career was committed to melding sound science with natural resource policy through regional, national, and international conferences and workshops. In July 2003, while hosting the 10th North American Forest Soils Conference, Neil was diagnosed with an illness that proved terminal. We remember our friend for his keen, scientific intellect. But our memories also are filled by the humility, courage, and grace of this exceptional and gentle man. The Editors
Dedication to Neil William Foster
Neil William Foster (November 7, 1945–July 5, 2005) We dedicate these pages to the memory of Neil W. Foster, one of the world’s premier scientists in the field of forest soils. More than a colleague, Neil was a dear friend with an immense capacity for integrative science that began with soils and extended to ecosystems and societal concerns. His forestry education included a B.Sc.F. degree from the University of Toronto, an M.S. from the University of Washington, and a Ph.D. from the University of Guelph. His 37-year career with the Canadian Forest Service at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario included sabbaticals with the Faculty of Forestry, University of New Brunswick. He was an active
0378-1127/$ – see front matter doi:10.1016/S0378-1127(05)00700-0
member of the Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut Forestier du Canada (Central Ontario Section Council Member and Secretary), Canadian Soil Science Society, and the Soil Science Society of America (Chair and Board Representative for the Forest and Range Soils Division). He served as Associate Editor of the Canadian Journal of Forest Research and was scientific advisor to the Ontario government on environmental impacts of air pollution and timber harvesting. In 1992 he was awarded the Government of Canada Commendation for Scientific Excellence. Dr. Foster’s career began with forest fertilization research and expanded to the impacts of harvesting on nutrient cycling and to the effects of atmospheric deposition on site productivity. A major achievement was the co-founding of the Turkey Lakes Watershed Study, Canada’s stellar watershed research program and among the leading interdisciplinary studies in the world. Ecosystem processes research at Turkey Lakes is Canada’s contribution to the Integrated Monitoring Program of the European Economic Commission. Neil’s research at Turkey Lakes contributed to the development and signing of the 1991 Canada–U.S. Air Quality Agreement, and for this he was awarded an Environment Canada citation. His work here and elsewhere led to Canadian federal involvement in the North America Long-Term Soil Productivity Cooperative Research Program. His career was committed to melding sound science with natural resource policy through regional, national, and international conferences and workshops. In July 2003, while hosting the 10th North American Forest Soils Conference, Neil was diagnosed with an illness that proved terminal. We remember our friend for his keen, scientific intellect. But our memories also are filled by the humility, courage, and grace of this exceptional and gentle man. The Editors