Nick Beresford has left us. A tribute to an excellent radioecologist, amazing person and dear friend
Anyone who has worked on radioecology-related issues will have been lucky to meet, at some point, somewhere, Prof. Dr. Nick Beresford (Nick to his colleagues) and, without any doubt, learned something from him, since he always shared his extensive knowledge and good work with all of us.
Nick has been an eminent radioecologist for over 30 years and has published extensively (more than 150 refereed publications and more than 200 reports, datasets and other publications). He has been the Environmental Contaminants Group Leader at UK CEH Lancaster and an honorary professor at the University of Salford.
His resource focus was originally the transfer of radionuclides to farm animals and countermeasures to reduce exposure of humans to radioactivity. Since about 2000 he has been one of the leading scientists developing and testing models to estimate the radiation exposure and resultant risk for wildlife. He is also one of the key developers of the ERICA Tool.
He has collaborated with scientists in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone since the mid-1990’s with studies investigating farm animals, crop plants and wildlife. In 2016 he won, together with Dr. Mike Wood (University of Salford) the award ‘Research Project of the Year’ for their work in the Chernobyl exclusion zone.
Nick has contributed to the development of assessment methodologies for both the IAEA and the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Through these activities he has risen to be a leading figure in the development of the international system for the protection of non-human biota from ionising radiation.
In recent years Nick focussed in the development of new methods of determining the transfer of radionuclides to wildlife and the application of trap cameras in the Ukrainian Chernobyl Exclusion Zone to assess mammalian abundance and diversity.
Vice-president of the European Radioecology ALLIANCE since 2018, Nick has always been strongly engaged in all ALLIANCE activities, leading the Human Food Chain Working Group, organising and participating in webinars, and representing the ALLIANCE in multiple forums.
The members of the European Radioecology ALLIANCE would like to make a tribute to Nick, one of the best radioecologists, a marvellous person and a truly beloved friend. Way too early, he will be missed.
Our heartfelt condolences to his family, especially to his wife Cath, and friends.