I don't know how many of you knew the Swedish echinoderm expert Hans G. Hansson, but it may interest some of you to know that he has sadly passed away suddenly on January 30, at the age of 65. Hans G. was one of those naturalists that knew the local fauna intimately. He worked at Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory (now The Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences - Tjärnö) for most of his professional career and earned a doctor honoris causa in 2003. Hans G. was much appreciated by colleagues and students alike for his broad and deep knowledge on the fauna of the area. His special interest was in echinoderms. He is also the author of the species lists North East Atlantic Taxa or NEA http://www.tmbl.gu.se/libdb/taxon/taxa.html that were part of the ERMS volume and have been incorporated into the WoRMS databases. And he has accumulated a biographical etymology of marine species BEMON http://www.tmbl.gu.se/libdb/taxon/personetymol/index.htm

Who are we to ask now when we find strange creatures in our samples? Hans G. Hansson always knew the answer and some interesting biological facts to go with it. He will be missed by many.

Regards,

Sabine Stöhr