Annals of Mentorship: A Memoir of Sifford Pearre, Jr.

Sifford Pearre was a gentleman scientist, marine biologist, and oceanographer who was educated at the University of Virginia and at Dalhousie's then Institute of Oceanography (PhD 1970). He was an Adjunct Professor at Dalhousie University until shortly before he died in 2015. Sifford was uninterested in fashions or trends, instead holding a steady intellectual course against adversaries illogical or mundane. Because of this he remained steadfastly outside the mainstream, following his own paths. One did not always cross these paths, but they were rewarding. A few years ago I discovered several focused, single-author papers on the fascinating marine arrow-worms (Chaetognaths) from the 1970s and 1980s, which fortuitously helped me understand some of the complex ecology in my own study region, the Indian Ocean. At a time when single-authored papers were going out of fashion, with Big Data and complex international collaborations, these papers struck me as deeply wise, with their straight clarity and focus. As I grew into my science career, Sifford became a sounding board where I could talk over my thoughts and my thinking, walking with him through the ups and downs of my experience. These conversations always validated the importance of rational discourse and ethical thinking against a backdrop of what was, to me, a difficult scientific world, where the best minds did not always shine, and the truth often took time to surface. I recall one international conference when I was scheduled at the same time as a big star, and I faced a total audience of four. I looked up and saw that one of them was Sifford, sitting at the back, smiling and taking notes. I had a surge of gratefulness at what was clearly an act of kindness, but also suddenly realized I was to be held to his canon. His presence was a reminder that numbers in the audience would wax and wane, trends came and went, but good science conversation had its own importance, holding us to a standard of discourse that was more mature. It is this simple, open engagement with the ideas and minds of other investigators—particularly young investigators—which is so powerful. It harkens us back to the early roots of modern scientific discussion in the 15th−16th centuries, the Republic of Letters, and eventually, the Enlightenment. But as our lives become busier, every face-to-face meeting with a student or post-doc competes against a battery of emails, texts and commitments. Sifford's quiet focus reminds us that our engagement in the science community starts with a direct conversation, and that as experienced scientists, this conversation is ours to initiate. In times where the very function of science is being questioned by extremist populism, this conversation has never been more important. Anya M. Waite, anya.waite@awi.de

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