Tribute to Eileen J. Cox - Editorial

Abstract

This issue is dedicated to Dr. Eileen Joan Cox on the occasion of her 70th birthday. Eileen is a very well-known phycologist who has made a major contribution to diatom research, for instance in terms of scientific papers published and species described (all listed in pages 412–414 of this issue) but also in addressing different topics (e.g. taxonomy of particular groups, the ecology of streams and tube dwelling diatoms, life-history and morphogenesis, valve terminology, the chloroplasts of living diatoms, and many others). The photos on the issue’s cover were chosen to reflect some of these aspects of Eileen’s work: Navicula oblonga refers to her work and advocacy of research on living diatoms; Encyonema refers to her earliest work on diatoms that live inside polysaccharide tubes; and Navicula refers to Eileen’s principal taxonomic focus over many years – the diatoms that used to be classified in the catch-all genus Navicula, which have now been split off and placed into many different genera. However, perhaps the most important contribution of a scientist is one that cannot be so easily measured, and that is the positive impact and influence the scientist makes on her/his colleagues. In this respect, Eileen’s contribution has been huge: she has always facilitated collaborations, welcoming students and visitors and putting facilities at their disposal, always taking care of the person as well as the work. She has also volunteered her time and energy generously to scientific societies, editing journals and many other good causes. Not surprisingly we (editors) did not have to make any effort to convince researchers to contribute to this issue. In fact, we faced the opposite problem in having to restrict the number of papers quite severely to keep the issue manageable. We would like to take this opportunity to apologize to all those who would have liked to contribute but have been left out.