In Memoriam: Oliver William (Bill) Heal, 1934-2021

 

The father of the idea of a “university of the Arctic”, and the chair of the task force that undertook the initial planning for a circumpolar university – the task force that helped bring UArctic into existence.

“I came to understand a key lesson in scientific research: that ‘the whole is greater than the sum of parts’. This extends from the construction of mathematical models to simple discussions between individuals and groups of people. People from different backgrounds, different countries collaborating to focus on common issues. This has repeatedly worked.”

(Excerpt from Bill’s memoir)