It is with great sadness that we share the news that Prof. John A. Beardmore (1930–2026) passed away on June 29 after a short illness, surrounded by his family.

John Beardmore was Professor of Genetics and Head of the Department of Genetics at Swansea University (UK), later also serving as Director of the Institute of Marine Studies and Head of the School of Biological Sciences. 

For many of us, Prof. Beardmore was a teacher, guide, source of inspiration, and dear friend.

A renowned Drosophila geneticist, he became interested in fish genetics and, in the late 1970s, in Artemia, describing the brine shrimp in a paper with Gonzalo Gajardo as “the aquatic Drosophila.”

He was the PhD promotor and advisor of several PhD students working on Artemia across different continents. He was a valued advisor to the Artemia Reference Center from his first visit in 1978 onward, played a crucial role in establishing the International Study on Artemia, and was a strong advocate of interdisciplinary cooperation.

For more than 10 years, he was a visiting professor at Ghent University for the course “Aquaculture Genetics” in the “MSc in Aquaculture” program. Many students from four continents have fond memories of their beloved professor of genetics.

Shortly after the establishment of the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium, John accepted the role of IAAC Honorary Scientific Advisor. In a video meeting in July 2023, he shared his recommendations for future IAAC activities.

We are proud to have known and learned from Prof. John Beardmore, a great scientist and teacher, and a very warm and amiable person.

Through this message to his children James, Virginia, Hugo and Charlie, we extend our sincere condolences to his dear wife Patricia and to the entire family.