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The father of new zealand soil biochemistry. A tribute to Desmond (Des) Joseph Ross 1923-2010

Abstract

On 4 July 2010 our long-time friend and colleague Des Ross died after a short illness. From his first paper in 1948 (published in Nature) and the three Biochemical Journal communications arising from his PhD days at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, to those still to be published on his current interests in 2010, Des had a productive and distinguished scientific career in soil biology and biochemistry spanning well over half a century. He had a major influence as a researcher, a leader, and a mentor on several generations of New Zealand soil scientists – and was a quiet but determined force in moulding the science and encouraging the careers of the authors of this tribute.

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