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.
Table 1 Ten best cited articles (from google scholar)
Citations
Date
Aquatic Photosynthesis, 3rd Edition
P.G. Falkowski & J.A. Raven
Princeton University Press, 2013
3854
2013
The evolution of modern eukaryotic phytoplankton
P.G. Falkowski, M.E. Katz, A.H. Knoll, A. Quigg, J.A. Raven, et al
Science 305, 354–360
1790
2004
CO2 concentrating mechanisms in algae:
mechanisms, environmental modulation, and evolution
M. Giordano, J. Beardall & J.A. Raven
Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 56 (1), 99–131
1648
2005
Algae as nutritional food sources: revisiting our understanding
M.L. Wells, P. Potin, J.S. Craigie, J.A. Raven, S.S. Merchant, et al
Journal of applied phycology 29, 949–982
1527
2017
Plant Nutrient acquisition strategies change with soil age
H. Lambers, J.A. Raven, G.R. Shaver & S.E. Smith
Trends in ecology & evolution 23, 95–103
1488
2008
Ocean acidification due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide
J. Raven, K. Caldeira, H. Elderfield, O. Hoegh-Guldberg, P. Liss, et al
The Royal Society, Policy Document, June 2005
1470
2005
Phytoplankton in a changing world: cell size and elemental stoichiometry
Z.V. Finkel, J. Beardall, K.J. Flynn, A. Quigg, T.A.V. Rees & J.A. Raven
Journal of plankton research 32, 119–137
1198
2010
Opportunities for improving phosphorus efficiency in crop plants
E.J. Veneklaas, H. Lambers, J. Bragg, P.M. Finnegan, C.E. Lovelock, et al
New phytologist 195, 306–320
951
2012
Adaptation of unicellular algae to irradiance: an analysis of strategies
K. Richardson, J. Beardall & J.A. Raven
New Phytologist 93, 157–191
914
1983
Nitrogen assimilation and transport in vascular land plants in relation to Intracellular pH regulation
J.A. Raven & F.A. Smith
New Phytologist 76, 415–431
893
1976
Temperature and algal growth
J.A. Raven & R.J. Geider
New phytologist 110, 441–461
867
1988
The role of trace metals in photosynthetic electron transport in O2 -evolving organisms
J.A. Raven, M.C.W. Evans & R.E. Korb
Photosynthesis Research 60, 111–150
840
1999
