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Geoffrey William Bryan
Pergamon
Geoffrey William Bryan The worlds of trace metal chemistry and aquatic science were most sadly impacted recently with the news of the death of Geoff Bryan, on 17 September 1993. Geoff suffered a heart attack while playing badminton in Plymouth, England. A graduate and research student of Bristol University, Geoff began his career at the Plymouth Laboratory of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom in 1958, initially working under contract for the (then) UK Atomic Energy Authority. Because of this contractual arrangement, his early work involved the accumulation of radionuclides and the connected topic of ionic regulation in marine organisms. It should be emphasized that very little was known of such topics in the late 1950s, and Geoff played a major role in laying the basis for our present understanding in this field, even in his early career. The transition from radionuclides and ionic regulation to trace metal chemistry was a natural one, and Geoff underwent this progression in the mid-1960s and early 1970s. His wide experience and innovative approach to analytical techniques, experimentation and field work provided the foundation for an outstanding series of manuscripts, extending eventually over three decades. Work involving mainly crustaceans in the 1960s gave way to studies of macroalgae, polychaetes, gastropods and bivalve molluscs, and Geoff published widely on all of these groups of organisms as well as on trace elements in sediments. His outstanding abilities in the design of experiments and the interpretation of data resulted in valuable insights into diverse topics, including the essential nature of certain elements; tolerance mechanisms to metals; issues relating to contaminant bioavailability; and aspects of metal toxicity. Geoff worked on many elements throughout his career, providing accurate and extensive data and concise, beautifully written papers which established the basis for much later research by others. More
Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol. 28, No. l, p. 2, 1994 Copyrigh~ © 1994 Elsevier Science Ltd Printed in Great Britain. All rights reserved 0(125-326X/94 $6.00 + 1).00
recently, he also played a major role in establishing the link between tributyl tin contamination (mostly from antifouling paints), the imposex phenomenon, and the resulting decline of certain neogastropod populations in the south-west of England and elsewhere. This research contributed significantly to the adoption of regulatory standards for TBT in the international arena. Geoff's review articles were also mines of information and have been widely used by all in the field. During his career at the Marine Biological Association (and since 1988, the Plymouth Marine Laboratory), Geoff published over 90 papers, each of high quality and exceptional clarity. Many remain classics, and his work is cited more frequently than that of any other researcher in the field. However, he also significantly affected the work performed by others, not simply through his written material, but by the provision of advice and experience. His enthusiasm and encouragement were given to all who needed them, and to those who knew Geoff well, his dry sense of humour was a delight. An essentially private person, he spoke relatively infrequently at conferences and public meetings, but his expertise shone through at such occasions. Quite simply, Geoff Bryan was the most accomplished trace metal aquatic scientist of his generation, and his publication record proves this. He will be greatly missed, both for his scientific input and his personal gifts. Shortly before his untimely death, Geoff had agreed to give the Guest Speaker's lecture to the Third International Conference on Trace Metals in the Aquatic Environment, to be held at Aarhus in Denmark in May 1994. This was timed to closely follow his official retirement from the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, but it was widely recognized that he would continue in the field. The conference will now be dedicated to him, and Marine Pollution Bulletin will publish its proceedings as a Special Issue, also dedicated to him. All who knew Geoff will understand that he would have appreciated this gesture, and all share in their condolences to his family and many friends. DAVE PHILLIPS BILL LANGSTON
Geoffrey William Bryan The worlds of trace metal chemistry and aquatic science were most sadly impacted recently with the news of the death of Geoff Bryan, on 17 September 1993. Geoff suffered a heart attack while playing badminton in Plymouth, England. A graduate and research student of Bristol University, Geoff began his career at the Plymouth Laboratory of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom in 1958, initially working under contract for the (then) UK Atomic Energy Authority. Because of this contractual arrangement, his early work involved the accumulation of radionuclides and the connected topic of ionic regulation in marine organisms. It should be emphasized that very little was known of such topics in the late 1950s, and Geoff played a major role in laying the basis for our present understanding in this field, even in his early career. The transition from radionuclides and ionic regulation to trace metal chemistry was a natural one, and Geoff underwent this progression in the mid-1960s and early 1970s. His wide experience and innovative approach to analytical techniques, experimentation and field work provided the foundation for an outstanding series of manuscripts, extending eventually over three decades. Work involving mainly crustaceans in the 1960s gave way to studies of macroalgae, polychaetes, gastropods and bivalve molluscs, and Geoff published widely on all of these groups of organisms as well as on trace elements in sediments. His outstanding abilities in the design of experiments and the interpretation of data resulted in valuable insights into diverse topics, including the essential nature of certain elements; tolerance mechanisms to metals; issues relating to contaminant bioavailability; and aspects of metal toxicity. Geoff worked on many elements throughout his career, providing accurate and extensive data and concise, beautifully written papers which established the basis for much later research by others. More
Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol. 28, No. l, p. 2, 1994 Copyrigh~ © 1994 Elsevier Science Ltd Printed in Great Britain. All rights reserved 0(125-326X/94 $6.00 + 1).00
recently, he also played a major role in establishing the link between tributyl tin contamination (mostly from antifouling paints), the imposex phenomenon, and the resulting decline of certain neogastropod populations in the south-west of England and elsewhere. This research contributed significantly to the adoption of regulatory standards for TBT in the international arena. Geoff's review articles were also mines of information and have been widely used by all in the field. During his career at the Marine Biological Association (and since 1988, the Plymouth Marine Laboratory), Geoff published over 90 papers, each of high quality and exceptional clarity. Many remain classics, and his work is cited more frequently than that of any other researcher in the field. However, he also significantly affected the work performed by others, not simply through his written material, but by the provision of advice and experience. His enthusiasm and encouragement were given to all who needed them, and to those who knew Geoff well, his dry sense of humour was a delight. An essentially private person, he spoke relatively infrequently at conferences and public meetings, but his expertise shone through at such occasions. Quite simply, Geoff Bryan was the most accomplished trace metal aquatic scientist of his generation, and his publication record proves this. He will be greatly missed, both for his scientific input and his personal gifts. Shortly before his untimely death, Geoff had agreed to give the Guest Speaker's lecture to the Third International Conference on Trace Metals in the Aquatic Environment, to be held at Aarhus in Denmark in May 1994. This was timed to closely follow his official retirement from the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, but it was widely recognized that he would continue in the field. The conference will now be dedicated to him, and Marine Pollution Bulletin will publish its proceedings as a Special Issue, also dedicated to him. All who knew Geoff will understand that he would have appreciated this gesture, and all share in their condolences to his family and many friends. DAVE PHILLIPS BILL LANGSTON