A Tribute to Graham Williams (1937-2026)

Graham Williams (1937-2026) was well known among geoscientists in Atlantic Canada (and far beyond) for his scientific contributions as Mesozoic-Cenozoic palynologist for 55 years with the Geological Survey of Canada Atlantic at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He was also well known for his role as one of the founders of the Atlantic Geoscience Society, and his many contributions to outreach through the production of educational geoscience videos, EdGeo workshops for teachers, his editorial roles in the "Last Billion Years” and “Four Billion Years and Counting” books, and his entertaining speaking style.  However, Graham also made incredible contributions to this journal as co-editor from 1986 to 2000.

In the mid-1980s when the journal, known then as Maritime Sediments and Atlantic Geology, was struggling to survive, Graham volunteered along with Sandra Barr to join Ron Pickerill as journal co-editors. This team convinced the council of the Atlantic Geoscience Society to formally accept the journal as its official publication beginning in 1987, and to formally appoint Graham, Ron, and Sandra as co-editors. Graham was a talented editor, and his skills were instrumental in building the journal into what is now Atlantic Geoscience. Those years were difficult financially and logistically but by the time Graham passed over his editorial role to Rob Fensome in 2000, the journal was poised to move into the world of digital publishing and subsequent financial stability. Graham continued to be a strong supporter of the journal over the years, and in the past five years, in particular, he contributed to the journal as editor and author for the Special Series on Circum-Arctic Palynological Event Stratigraphy.

Writing now from a personal perspective, I take this opportunity to thank Graham for all our years of being colleagues and friends. His sense of humour, work ethic, wise advice, selfless contributions, and especially friendship were greatly valued. I will miss him.

Sandra Barr