The Man, the Myth, the Legend: Professor Terry V. Callaghan and His 3M Concept

Abstract

During almost half a century, Professor Terry V. Callaghan has been active in polar research focusing on Arctic environment and the ecology of Arctic plants, animals, and ecosystem processes, including ecological responses to changes in climate, atmospheric CO2 concentrations, and UV-B radiation. Professor Callaghan is an excellent scientist who has carried out outstanding research and he is also a role model for colleagues and young scientists, and an excellent friend. Through his hard work he has made himself a strong and positive reputation within the polar community and beyond. Professor Callaghan has contributed to and led numerous international scientific synthesizing processes. He was a member of the United Nations Environment Programme’s expert panel on Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Effects for many years (Zepp et al. 1998, 2003), he was a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Polar and Ecosystems Chapters (Anisimov et al. 2007) as well as of the Millennium Assessment of Ecosystems’ Polar Chapter (Chapin et al. 2005). He has also been a major contributor to the Arctic Climate Impacts Assessment (ACIA 2005; Callaghan et al. 2005) and the Snow, Water, Ice, Permafrost in the Arctic Report (Callaghan et al. 2011a, b). In addition, Professor Callaghan is the coordinator of SCANNET1 and its large EU infrastructure program INTERACT2 that now includes activities at over 40 research stations throughout the Arctic. Professor Callaghan’s contribution to Arctic research has been recognized at a high level. In 2007 he was included in the group award of the Nobel Peace Prize, and in 2011 he was personally awarded the Vega Medal by the King of Sweden. Professor Callaghan’s achievements in Arctic research in general are eminent, but it is for his outstanding work as the Director of the Abisko Scientific Research Station between 1996 and 2010 that we would like to honor him with this Festschrift. Professor Callaghan first visited the Abisko Scientific Research Station in 1973. Already from the beginning Professor Callaghan initiated collaborative projects with many senior and young researchers. He encouraged both Swedish and international colleagues and students to establish projects in the Abisko area. He attracted and supervised many PhD students and was successful in obtaining financial support from both domestic and international sources. His thorough knowledge of scientific methods, his brilliant and inventive mind that thinks unconventionally, his humble, friendly, and encouraging approach, his deep sense of humor, are all qualities which explain the attraction and success among colleagues and students. During the past 10–15 years the Abisko Scientific Research Station has become an international hub for the planning and execution of ecological projects related to climate change in the Arctic. The role of Professor Callaghan for the scientific progress at the Station cannot be overestimated. Under his leadership the number of scientific papers and the number of scientists establishing projects and collaborative works in the area have been steadily increasing and hence also the international visibility of the Station. There are few Arctic researchers that have not heard about the Abisko Scientific Research Station and its activities.