Botany Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Neil Towers, a well known ethnopharmacologist/phytochemist and Professor at the University of British Columbia, passed away at age 81 on November 15th, 2004 in Vancouver from medical complications which developed during October, 2004. Neil was in fine spirits during the months before and made a field trip to the Amazon and delivered the keynote banquet address at the joint ISCE PSNA conference in Ottawa.
Neil was born in Burma (now Myanmar) where he grew up in the tropical forest collecting insects, plants and poisonous snakes. After serving in the Royal Indian Navy Volunteer Reserve, he was awarded an Ajax scholarship to study in Canada. He obtained his B.Sc. and M.Sc. from McGill University where he studied with phytochemist Darnley Gibbs, and his Ph.D. from Cornell University where he studied with F.C. Steward. After academic appointments at McGill and the NRC in Halifax, he moved to UBC, where he served as Head of the Department of Botany from 1964–71. Thereafter he remained as professor of Botany and active researcher for the rest of his career.
Neil's lab could only be described as a colourful and exciting place full of interesting people, organisms and artifacts of all types from around the world. The latter included his ethnobotanical artifacts, indigenous peoples postcard collection and cultures of entertaining fungi. He worked on a fascinating array of topics including phototoxins from plants, hallucinogens from fungi, chemical defenses of centipedes, insect antifeedants, antibacterial and antiviral substances, and ethnomedicines. As a pioneer in the field, Neil was passionate about biologically active plants.
Neil was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, from whom he received the Flavelle Medal in 1986. He received numerous research awards and prizes over his career. Most recently, he was awarded the Pergamon Phytochemistry Prize in 2000, and in 2001 was recognized by ISI as one of the world's most highly cited scientists. He published more than 425 papers and book chapters, starting with a 1953 paper in Nature..
Perhaps Neil's greatest contribution was the very large number of students and postdoctoral fellows and researchers from all parts of the world to whom he gave the gift of enthusiasm for science and the natural world. Neil will be greatly missed by his wife Elizabeth and eight children as well as many friends and colleagues.
John Thor Arnason Ottawa Towers lab 1978-9
From the Editor
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Dr. G.H. Neil Towers. As summarized in the memoriam provided by his friend and colleague, John Thor Arnason, Neil led a rich and full life, and strongly influenced the scientific development and thinking of many, many students and associates. The loss of Neil has caused me to reminisce and recall the various superstars I have had the privilege of knowing over the years, many of whom must be considered as icons in the world of natural products. I cannot think of any with greater wit and intellect, nor can I think of any who are more well suited to be characterized as an icon. It was not possible to know Neil without loving and admiring him; those who did not have the opportunity of knowing Neil should be envious of those who did have the honor. On behalf of Pharmaceutical Biology., I would like to express my sincerest condolences to Neil's family. And, in recognition of his generous service as a member of the Editorial Board, I would like to dedicate Volume 43 of this journal to his memory.
John M. Pezzuto West Lafayette