Professor's life celebrated in scientific journal tribute issue

A special new issue of a scientific journal has been dedicated to a much-missed Harper Adams Professor Emeritus.

The latest edition of the Annals of Applied Biology is a tribute to the late Professor Simon Leather, whose work transformed the delivery of entomology education at Harper Adams from his arrival in 2012 right up until his death in September 2021.

The journal – which Professor Leather himself had been Editor in Chief of between 2015 and 2020 – contains articles linked to his work, as well a dedicated editorial with tributes and memories from colleagues and friends from around the world – as well as at Harper Adams.

Reader in Entomology Dr Tom Pope, who first met Professor Leather when applying to become a Masters student, recalls how fortunate he felt to work with Professor Leather from an initial meeting as a prospective Masters student – through to working with him at Harper Adams to set up a Masters programme.

Head of the Department for Agriculture and Environment, Dr Andy Wilcox, recalls both one of his first meetings with Professor Leather – when both went for a job at Harper Adams – and then what it was like working with him to bring Entomology to the University.

He notes how Professor Leather’s unwavering dedication and drive brought entomology to Harper Adams – and how, despite his disdain for paperwork, his commitment to his subject transformed its study here.

Lecturer in Integrated Pest Management Dr Joe Roberts remembers how he had first corresponded with Professor Leather to ask about roles in forensic entomology – and how, while this avenue proved a dead end, he still found himself working with Professor Leather on his PhD.

Dr Roberts, who now manages the courses that Professor Leather helped set up at Harper Adams, believes he owes his career as an academic to him and how ‘entomology is a better discipline’ thanks to his work.

 And Dr Matthew Back, Reader in Nematology, recalls how Professor Leather’s commitment to sharing his love of insects not only extended to academic journals – but also to much younger entomologists.

He discusses how Professor Leather was not only a keen supporter of academic journals and learned societies – but also made time to tour Dr Back’s five-year-old daughter around the Harper Adams entomology collections.

Read all the tributes – and find links to other pieces in the special tribute issue – here.