Written by Ramon Filguera and Gesche Krause on behalf of the Working Group on Social and Economic Dimensions of Aquaculture (WGSEDA).
Jon Grant has been a long-standing and influential member of WGSEDA and played a pivotal role in transforming the group into the dynamic and inclusive interdisciplinary forum it is today. His efforts have helped establish a collaborative atmosphere that fosters open discussion while grounding the group's work in robust scientific principles across a number of disciplines.
Professionally, Grant was a Professor of Oceanography at Dalhousie University (Canada). He completed his BSc in Zoology in 1976 (Duke University) and his PhD in Biology in 1981 (University of South Carolina). Grant joined Dalhousie University as a NATO postdoctoral fellow in 1981, became a Full Professor of Oceanography in 1997, and held multiple positions recognizing his worldwide leadership in aquaculture research. He was an outstanding scientist, publishing more than 200 scientific papers and supervising more than 50 Masters and PhD students. This exceptional body of work and legacy makes him one of the most prominent world leaders in aquaculture science.
Grant had a firm rooting in the natural sciences but he recognized early on the interdisciplinary nature of aquaculture. He acknowledged the need to work with industry, governments, and communities to promote sustainable aquaculture. Accordingly, he never hesitated to embrace transdisciplinary projects and was not shy about crossing the boundaries of natural and social sciences. His support during the establishment of Dalhousie's Marine Affairs Program (MAP) is a case in point.
However, it is important to note that this capacity for scientific bridging was not the only reason he was such a beloved member of our working group - rather, it was because of his great personality! He had an infectious smile, a dry sense of humour and warm, compassionate, and humble ways that helped to engage with ease between different scientific disciplines and countries.
He was an attentive listener and highly engaged - even when meetings took place in the early hours (for the Canadian time zone). He was always good for a solid comment, sharp observations, and great suggestions that were right on target for the subject of discussion. All of which were central to the lasting success of our highly interdisciplinary working group. In our view, this personal openness was his real contribution – being a mindful human being deeply rooted in seeing (and the wish to preserve) our beautiful planet.
Our sincere condolences to his family and friends on his loss.
