Discussion List Archives

[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

I. David Brown (1932-2026)

  • To: [email protected]
  • Subject: I. David Brown (1932-2026)
  • From: Brian McMahon via comcifs <[email protected]>
  • Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2026 15:35:10 +0100
  • Cc: Brian McMahon <[email protected]>
  • DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=iucr.org; s=mailman;t=1783348515; bh=Sz7WqwvpZqpIkV1pcEjM5iunXMjr73o3DTfNOA82MQQ=;h=Date:To:Subject:List-Id:List-Unsubscribe:List-Archive:List-Post: List-Help:List-Subscribe:From:Reply-To:Cc:From;b=FTKObnf80T9kDb+h+QjxF86NKBDDWRnBiNM1o/nz/MaLZqJMHFp68qWiEMeNLrrtq Z0wl/wwYPf/KEyeJspeAq8WBxWZOJgEJJUL2wfzV0cqQXNlVwhlZQ1xtT+vMwi514m oirBq3wFSuHwgkxWaX9KDg7e1CFz6xR1U6bAZ95DVpxfBrPL8LDLHhInzzHebAt5hX 2yKBS3jrjAKFNdVb7QXNHKvtIs0Gewqy/Y0gYO/7Pff6IC3xRLvpItotNMoPGPyFj8 mXKwCmWkaONDTdgMf5hk9jzvA3Vnz08nVuymjGlWkieGpM87x0FhXpsERurfIvxdMz dKlebyigxub0A==
A brief note just to mark the passing of David Brown, co-author of the original CIF paper and first Chair of COMCIFS. David's work on standardization played a key role in the content of the first draft of the core dictionary, and his subsequent supervision of new and expanding dictionaries was always notable for a persistent drive towards precision in definitions. He was also known to many of the editorial staff in the IUCr journals Chester office as a conscientious and reliable Co-editor.
In his memoir on the ACA web site [2], he wrote "we launched CIF, where my librarian talents were again put to good use in creating CIF dictionaries. This was surprisingly hard work, but the reward was a much better understanding of the concepts of crystallography." The second sentence speaks volumes, and could act as a fitting promotion of the new edition of International Tables G, to which he continued to make important contributions.
He will be missed not only for his deep scholarship, but also for his polite good humour and gentlemanly demeanour.
[1] https://acas.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_dailyplanetblog&view=entry&year=2026&month=07&day=02&id=59%3Ahonoring-dr-i-david-brown-a-lifetime-of-scientific-discovery[2] https://history.amercrystalassn.org/memoir---david-brown[3] https://www.dundastoday.com/obituaries/brown-ian-david-12501368

Brian_______________________________________________comcifs mailing [email protected]https://mailman.iucr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/comcifs

Reply to: [list | sender only]