John Raven, FRS, FRSE: a truly great innovator in plant physiology, photosynthesis and much more

Larkum, A.W.D.; Falkowski, P.G.; Edwards, Dianne; Osmond, C.B.; Lambers, H.; Sanchez-Baracaldo, P.; Ritchie, R.J.; Runcie, J.W.; Ralph, P.J.; Westoby, M.; Maberly, Stephen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3541-5903; Griffiths, H.; Smith, F.A.; Beardall, J.. 2025 John Raven, FRS, FRSE: a truly great innovator in plant physiology, photosynthesis and much more. Photosynthesis Research, 163 (2), 18. 20, pp. 10.1007/s11120-025-01139-4

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-025-01139-4

Abstract/Summary

This is a tribute to a truly inspirational plant biologist, Prof. John A. Raven, FRS, FRSE (25th June 1941– 23rd May 2024), who died at the age of 82. He was a leader in the field of evolution and physiology of algae and land plants. His research touched on many areas including photosynthesis, ion transport, carbon utilisation, mineral use, such as silicon, iron and molybdenum, the evolution of phytoplankton, the evolution of root systems, the impact of global change, especially on the acidification of the oceans, carbon gain and water use in early land plants, and ways of detecting extraterrestrial photosynthesis. Beginning his research career in the Botany School, University of Cambridge, John studied ion uptake in a giant algal cell. This was at the time of great strides brought about by Peter Mitchell (1920–1992) in elucidating the role of energy generation in mitochondria and chloroplasts and the coupling of ion transport systems to energy generation. With Enid MacRobbie and Andrew Smith, John pioneered early work on the involvement of ion transport in the growth and metabolism of plant cells.On leaving Cambridge John took up a lectureship at the University of Dundee in 1971, where he was still attached upon his death. His primary focus over the years, with one of us (Paul Falkowski), was on phytoplankton, the photosynthetic microalgae of the oceans. Still, his publication list of 5 books and over 600 scientific papers spans a very broad range. The many highly cited papers (see Table 1) attest to an outstanding innovator, who influenced a multitude of students and coworkers and a very wide readership worldwide. At the personal level, John Raven was a wonderful human being; he had an extraordinary memory, dredging up facts and little-known scientific papers, like a scientific magician, but at the same time making humorous jokes and involving his colleagues in fun and sympathetic appreciation.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1007/s11120-025-01139-4
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	UKCEH Fellows
ISSN:	0166-8595
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	John A Raven: ion transport, photosynthesis, shoot-root interactions, early land plants, extraterrestrial life, algae
Date made live:	18 Feb 2025 17:42 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538928

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1007/s11120-025-01139-4

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

UKCEH Fellows

ISSN:

0166-8595

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

John A Raven: ion transport, photosynthesis, shoot-root interactions, early land plants, extraterrestrial life, algae