Tributes to pioneers in bioenergetics - wandering in the garden of memories
2024-05-05
The community of bioenergetics regrets the loss of pioneers in bioenergetics. Most recently Marten Wickström, Sergio Papa, Stuart Ferguson.
Renowned scientists pay ‘Tributes to pioneers in bioenergetics': In contrast to Special Issues with a closure date, the BEC Publication Series (Gold Open Access) will continue to invite authors to contribute to the 'garden of memories' – Living Communications. This series is intended to be educational and provide insights into the minds and lives of pioneers in bioenergetics. Scientists and students should be alert of intellectual and experimental past developments that shape our ways of thinking. Tributes to pioneers in bioenergetics will provide a fresh look at concepts in a state of flow rather than as fixed paradigms, which tend to be forgotten or distorted without 'wandering in the garden of memories'.
Who qualifies as a 'pioneer'? The present list reflects bias in scientific history: lack of compensation for unequal gender opportunities, science networks centered on Europe and North America. Should 'Tributes to pioneers' be restricted to recognition after death? How do we define the field of bioenergetics? Bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts are center stage, thus energy transformation in 'bioblasts' is the core topic of bioenergetics. Support us by paying a tribute to your pioneers in bioenergetics, to properly expand the recognition of pioneers and their vital contributions to science and humanity.
A tribute to Giuseppe Attardi (1923-2008)
- » Nature
A tribute to Andrew A Benson (1917-2015)
A tribute to Paul D Boyer (1918-2018)
A tribute to Melvin Calvin (1911-1997)
A tribute to Britton Chance (1913-2010)
- » Brit
A tribute to Lars Ernster (1920-1998)
A tribute to Stuart J Ferguson (-2024)
A tribute to Bernhard Kadenbach (1933-2021)
A tribute to Martin J Kushmerick (1937-2019)
A tribute to Albert Lester Lehninger (1917-1986)
- » Nature
- Professor Albert L Lehninger was one of the most prominent biochemists whose groundbreaking work laid the foundation for the field of bioenergetics. His research focused on elucidating the fundamental biochemical processes involved in energy transformation and mitochondrial metabolism. Lehninger's most significant contributions revolved around the understanding of cellular respiration. His seminal textbook, "Biochemistry," first published in 1970, became a cornerstone in biochemistry education and is still widely used today.
A tribute to Peter Dennis Mitchell (1920-1992)
A tribute to Sergio Papa (-2024)
- » CV
- Communicated by Nacarreno Capitanio
A tribute to Tullio Pozzan (1949-2022)
- » Academia Europaea
- Communicated by Ole Pederson
A tribute to Bengt Saltin (1935-2014)
A tribute to Gottfried Schatz (1936-2015)
A tribute to Vladimir P Skulachev (1935-2023)
A tribute to Edward Charles Slater (1917-2016)
- » ASBMB
A tribute to Albert Szent-Györgyi (1893-1986)
A tribute to Andrey D Vinogradov (1942-2021)
- Communicated by Alexander Galkin
A tribute to Mårten KF Wikström (1945-2024)
- » Helsinki Institute of Life Science
- Professor Mårten Wikström, a luminary in biophysics and bioenergetics, revolutionized the field with his seminal work on cytochrome oxidases, notably resolving the Michell-Wikström debate on Complex IV as a proton pump, based on his classical publication of 1977. His illustrious career, spanning from pioneering research to academic leadership, earned him international recognition and prestigious awards, including membership in EMBO and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and the EBEC Peter Mitchell Medal. Wickström's enduring legacy extends beyond scientific achievements, as he is remembered for his intellectual refinement and musical talents. While his passing represents a significant loss, his contributions continue to inspire future generations of researchers, ensuring his impact persists in the scientific community. Several scientists pay a ‘Tribute to Mårten Wikström’ in a series of communications linked to his inspirational scientific and personal contributions.
A tribute to Lech Wojtczak (1926-2019)
Dear authors
- See BEC author guidelines
- Manuscripts will be processed, peer reviewed, and published on a rolling basis.
- The summary of the BEC Series (BECS) will be updated periodically.
- Please submit a short summary on pioneers in bioenergetics (max. 250 words). Suggestions to include additional pioneers are welcome, as are multiple manuscripts paying a tribute to a particular pioneer.
- Please suggest authors who should be contacted for additional contributions to the BEC Series.
- With many thanks for your interest and contributions,
- Erich Gnaiger
- Editor-in-chief: Bioenergetics Communications
