AASP Primary Records Program

Siwert Nilson

Professor Siwert Nilsson died suddenly August 19th 2002. He was born July 30th, 1933 in the northern part of Sweden. Siwert obtained his MSc (botany, geography, zoology) in 1959 at Uppsala University, Institute of Systematic Botany and, in 1965, his Licentiate degree at the same institute. In 1959 he also became an assistant at the Swedish Council of Natural Sciences, in the Palynological Laboratory in Stockholm, under the leadership of Professor Gunnar Erdtman.

Siwert was deeply involved in pollen morphological studies of the families Apocynaceae and, more particularly Gentianaceae. In 1970 this resulted in a brilliant defence of his thesis entitled 'Pollen Morphological Studies in the Gentianaceae' and the award of a PhD. In 1975 the Palynological Laboratory was transferred into the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm. Simultaneously Siwert Nilsson took over its leadership, and remained there as Director until his retirement on July 1st 1998. In 1992, in recognition for his scientific achievements both nationally and internationally, Siwert was appointed Professor in Palynology.

Siwert's interests were not confined to pollen morphology. In 1973 he initiated a research programme on aerobiology. At first carrying out studies on airborne pollen grains in the Stockholm region. In Sweden he was undoubtedly a pioneer in the field of aeropalynology. The research was carried out in co-operation with meteorological and medical institutions in Stockholm. Results of the analysis of local airborne pollen carried out by the laboratory, were provided on a daily basis to the press and radio in Stockholm, and thus communicated to the public. He was passionate about aeropalynology, and the discipline soon gained international recognition for its value in monitoring allergenic pollen in the air.

Siwert Nilsson attended many conferences on pollen morphology, and aerobiology. Besides Europe his travels took him to many other countries all over the world, to present his work, and organise seminars. He also organised several courses in Sweden at the Palynological Laboratory, the University of Stockholm, the Karolinska Hospital, and also abroad at the Universities of Bergen, Norway; Turku, Finland; Kingston, Jamaica; Amazonas, Brazil; Pretoria and Bloemfontein, South Africa and Havana, Cuba among others. Siwert was a great teacher, and it was a role he enjoyed, and he was much appreciated for his qualities in this respect. Under his leadership postgraduate students from both Swedish and foreign universities, came to carry out pollen morphological studies, leading to PhD awards.

Siwert Nilsson was always very enthusiastic about his work and had an impressive list of publications consisting of about 100 papers and several books. He is also well known as an editor. In the late sixties he was assistant editor for the review Grana Palynologica, and from 1976 co-editor of Grana, of which he became Editor-in-chief in 1985. Also, Siwert edited the occasional publication, the World Pollen and Spore Flora (WPSF), until his retirement. During 2002 Siwert again took on the role of Editor-in-chief of Grana and the WPSF, following the tragic death of Gamal El-Ghazaly in 2001. After his retirement, Siwert Nilsson continued his scientific activity at the Palynological Laboratory as Professor Emeritus. Until his death he remained Editor-in-chief of Grana, the journal that he edited so successfully, for many years. He was honoured with awards and medals by many scientific organisations.

His sudden, and early, death was a terrible shock for his family, as well as members of the Palynological Laboratory, and Palynologists all over the world. This tragic event has touched us with sorrow, and we miss him. Siwert will always be remembered as a fair and amiable leader, a helpful colleague, and a dear friend.

(A full list of Siwert's publications will be published in Grana)
    Praglowski, J., Blackmore, S. 2003.
    In Memoriam: Siwert Nilsson 1933-2002. Grana 42(2): 65-71.

Elisabath Grafstrom, Josef Praglowski and Wieslaw Smolenski
Palynological Laboratory
Swedish Museum of Natural History
Stockholm, Sweden