Geoff Adams, the elder son of a local government official, was born in Nottingham, England in 1926. Educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Mansfield, he was admitted to Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland on a Royal Air Force Pre-Entry Short Course in 1944 to read Physics and Engineering. While there, he was fortunate to enjoy brief introductions to Geology and Climatology, little knowing how important the former would become to him in later years. Full-time aircrew (navigator) training commenced in April 1945, but was terminated abruptly when the Pacific War ended a few months later. The next three years were occupied by Personnel Selection duties (intelligence and aptitude testing) throughout Flying Training Command.

In October 1948 Geoff returned to Queen's University, graduating in Zoology (1951) and with 1st Class Honors in Geology a year later. On the advice of the Shell Petroleum Company (he had been offered a Shell Research Studentship), he enrolled at Nottingham University to work on Liassic foraminifera, under Dr. W. D. Gill. Unfortunately, Gill left soon afterwards, leaving Geoff without specialist supervision.

After two years, and with his Ph.D. incomplete, Geoff accepted a post as Assistant Lecturer in Geology at King's College, London, where he wrote up his research and began a study of Jurassic corals. However, finding that university teaching was at that time too poorly paid to enable him to support a family, he declined the offer of a full lectureship and applied for posts with the British Petroleum Company and the British Museum (Natural History), now The Natural History Museum, London. On discovery that the B.P. post involved replacing Dr. F. T. (Fred) Banner in Papua New Guinea, he quickly opted for the cooler climes of London and the Museum - but without realizing that this job would also take him to the equatorial region within a few years!

Geoff joined The Natural History Museum in November 1956. Although appointed to take charge of the Fossil Protozoa collections in the Zoology Department (both Recent and fossil foraminifera had traditionally been assigned to the Zoology Department since the days of Heron-Allen), he found that the Palaeontology Department was at that time receiving numerous enquiries relating to the dating of Tertiary foraminiferal limestones in various parts of the Indo-Pacific region. In the belief that Tertiary faunas were likely to prove a more fruitful field of study than British Jurassic foraminifera (North Sea oil exploration had not then begun), he abandoned the smaller benthic forms and started work on their larger brethren, producing many internal reports for various geological surveys over the next few years.

An invitation to spend several months working with the Geological Survey of Sarawak and North Borneo in

In 1970 an attempt was made to place the Letter Classification of the Tertiary strata of the East Indies on a firmer footing. Subsequently (1984, "Neogene larger toraminifera, evolutionary and geological events in the context of datum planes"), the late Palaeogene and Neogene parts of the classification were modified in light of the published planktonic evidence. This work has led to the development of a detailed zonal scheme which is now almost complete.

Systematic work, and studies of variation and evolution ranging from Liassic foraminifera (1957), through Alveolina (1962), Austrotrillina (1968), and Lepidocyclina (1987), together with joint papers with other specialists, account for a substantial part of Geoff Adams' total research output. His greatest satisfaction was, however, derived from the collation and application of existing knowledge to the solution of geological problems. These ranged from the simple dating of strata to the interpretation of major events (e.g., "Foraminifera as indicators of geological events," in 1989; "The dating of Neogene events," in 1992). Some of these papers were deliberately provocative and controversial, as indeed were certain co-authored publications: "Dating the terminal Tethyan event" (with Gentry and Whybrow, 1983); "Conflicting isotopic and biotic evidence for tropical sea-surface temperatures during the Tertiary" (with Lee and Rosen, 1990), one object being to stimulate other people to fill important gaps in current knowledge. Personal satisfaction apart, his greatest pleasure has undoubtedly been in microscopy, every new thin section being seen as a scientific exploration-an opportunity to learn something new.

Although heavily committed to administrative duties after transferring to the Palaeontology Department as Deputy Keeper in 1968, Geoff found it possible to edit (in association with his friend and colleague, Dr. R. H. Hedley) three volumes of "Foraminifera," and to be involved actively in four IGCP projects, in the course of which new research was invariably initiated and published. In addition, he continued to travel widely throughout S.E. Asia and Australasia, collecting material, examining collections, lecturing and holding seminars.

Never particularly comfortable as a lecturer, much of Geoff Adams' spare time has, nevertheless, been devoted to teaching. For more than twenty years after his appointment to the Museum he taught extra-mural classes in Micropaleontology and Geology at various colleges of the University of London. He also served on the councils of several societies and organized many symposia and meetings. Much time and effort was put into refereeing papers for scientific journals and individual authors, in the belief that thoughtful criticism and commentaries not only improve some papers but help younger authors to develop a better scientific style.

In recognition of his contribution to science, his long service to the Museum, and his geological advisory work to the former British overseas territories, Geoff was awarded the Civil Honor of O.B.E. in 1985. Since his retirement in 1988, he has continued to work on the foraminifera, coming into the Museum two or three days per week. He hopes soon to complete a detailed zonation, based on larger foraminifera, of the Tertiary carbonates of the Indo-West Pacific Region. However, since he is never happier than when playing Association Croquet in one or other of his clubs, there may be some delay!

Geoff Adams' contribution to foraminiferal studies has been an impressive one in terms of its quality and significance. A perfectionist by nature, his thoroughness and attention to detail has shown through all he has produced. Nothing is accepted until it is factually proven by authenticated examples-this is not just a principle, it is a fact of all his routine and research work. Yet, he is a quiet, unassuming gentleman, who has never deliberately drawn attention to himself or his work. Indeed, when told of the Cushman Award he was unashamedly humble, stressing rather his debt to others he had met or worked with during his long career. "Whatever you say about me," he said, "I would like it to be on record that there are many living paleontologists to whom I owe great debts of gratitude for advice, assistance and intellectual stimulus, none more so than staff (past and present) of the Natural History Museum. I am, however, especially indebted to four persons now deceased: Dr. F. E. Eames (British Petroleum Company), Professor W. Storrs Cole (Cornell University), Professor Martin E. Glaessner (Adelaide University) and Professor I. M. van der Vlerk (Leiden), all of whom profoundly influenced my scientific philosophy and career."

The Board of Directors of the Cushman Foundation is proud to recognize the scientific achievements of Charles Geoffrey Adams by offering him the 1994 Joseph A. Cushman Award.

JOHN E. WHITTAKER
Department of Palaeontology
The Natural History Museum

footnote - In early February we received word that Geoff Adams passed away. It is with regret that we pass this information along to our readers. -- Editor

Journal of Foraminiferal Research, v. 25, no. 1, p. 1-2, January 1995