In Memoriam: Patrick Echlin

It is with deep regret that we inform you of the death of Dr Patrick Echlin on the 24th of October at the age of 83.

Patrick was well known to many involved with the Society as he channelled his enthusiasm for microscopy through handbooks, scientific articles and events. He is Past President, an elected Fellow, and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society and received the Distinguished Scientist Award in Biological Sciences from the Microscopy Society of America in 2001. He was made a Fellow of the Microscopy Society of America in 2009.

Outside of the MSA and RMS, Patrick was a lecturer in the Department of Plant Sciences and Director of the Multi-Imaging Centre, School of Biological Science at the University of Cambridge until he retired in 1999. He taught for more than thirty-five years at the Lehigh University Microscopy School and was the author and co-author of eight books on scanning electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis. His research focused on imaging and microanalysis of biological materials at cryogenic temperatures, spanning important aspects of specimen handling, preparation, and artifacts as well as instrumentation including the scanning electron microscope and scanning transmission electron microscope equipped with energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometers.