Professor Peter Fairweather has sadly passed away on 24 August 2020. A devoted scientist and one of Australia’s most respected ecologists, he retired from his role at Flinders University last year.
Throughout his long career, Professor Fairweather was an accomplished researcher, mentor, and teacher to many at Flinders, Deakin, Macquarie, and Sydney Universities as well as the CSIRO.
Professor Fairweather was first and foremost a quantitative ecologist, using well-designed experiments and modelling to seek out the true nature of aquatic ecosystems and the human impacts on these systems. He approached environmental problems with a focus on understanding how ecosystems work and could skillfully explain the most complex ecological processes to managers, industry and the public.
He held many roles as an advisor to government agencies and industry, and played a leading role in the development of marine protected areas – most notably through a secondment to the South Australian government during the planning of the State’s Marine Parks Network.
During his time at Flinders University, he was an accomplished academic who was always delighted to share his wisdom and experience to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Over the years, Professor Fairweather helped refine the marine science degree into the success it is today and was outspoken in his contributions to changes in the curriculum.
Professor Fairweather also had a great influence over honours students, as a passionate and understanding Biology honours coordinator for several years. He instilled in his students to do their best and helped them find their own confidence as scientists in training.
In his private life, Professor Fairweather extended his love for nature on his farm south of Adelaide, where he hosted a menagerie of animals with his partner Gillian. Amongst their many pets, they bred alpacas and frequently named newborns after his postgraduate and honours students, in a demonstration of his dedication to teaching and his students.
Professor Fairweather was an enthusiastic scientist with an outstanding intellect, a quirky sense of humour, and a booming laugh. People stopped to listen to him; he always had important things to say. He gave perspective, provided wisdom, kept things grounded and paved a way for his colleagues to navigate the complexities of nature in a human dominated world.
He will be sadly missed.
Tribute provided by Dr Ryan Baring, Associate Professor Mike Gardner, Associate Professor Charlie Huveneers and Professor Sabine Dittman