In Memoriam: George M. Sheldrick (1942–2025)
It is with profound sadness that the scientific community announces the passing of George M. Sheldrick, a pioneering crystallographer whose innovative contributions have left an indelible mark on the world of science. Born in 1942, George dedicated his career to advancing the field of crystallography, transforming the way scientists determine and understand molecular structures.
A Trailblazer in Crystallography
George’s groundbreaking work, most notably his development of the SHELX suite of programs, revolutionized crystal structure analysis. His methods brought unprecedented precision and efficiency to the field, empowering researchers across chemistry, biology, and materials science. Over decades, his innovations not only enriched academic research but also had practical applications in pharmaceuticals, nanotechnology, and beyond.
A Legacy of Mentorship & Collaboration
Beyond his technical achievements, George was revered for his generosity as a mentor and colleague. He was known for inspiring countless young scientists, always ready to share his insights and foster a spirit of curiosity and rigor. His approach to science—marked by humility, collaboration, and an unyielding pursuit of excellence—set a standard that will influence future generations of researchers.
Celebrating a Life of Impact
Throughout his illustrious career, George received numerous accolades and earned the respect of peers around the globe. His dedication to unraveling the complexities of crystal structures helped propel advancements that continue to benefit multiple disciplines. As colleagues, students, and friends remember his kindness and visionary thinking, his legacy will remain a guiding light in the scientific community.
A Fond Farewell
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George pictured above at the 2012 ACA Annual Meeting (Photo Credit: Peter Mueller) |
As we mourn the loss of a true giant in crystallography, we also celebrate the profound impact George M. Sheldrick had on science and on those fortunate enough to know him. His passion for discovery and his commitment to education have left a lasting imprint, ensuring that his contributions will continue to inspire innovation for years to come.
Family and close colleagues have requested privacy during this time of remembrance and reflection. In honoring his memory, the community looks forward to continuing the work he so passionately championed, ensuring that his spirit of inquiry endures.
George M. Sheldrick’s legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched and in every scientific breakthrough that builds upon his remarkable contributions. He will be dearly missed.
For more on the remarkable life and achievements of George: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_M._Sheldrick
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A Remembrance by Regine Herbst-Irmer & Isabel Usón |
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February 22, 2025 Dear Colleagues, it is with a heavy heart, that we must announce the passing of George Michael Sheldrick. Everyone in crystallography knows George as a giant in the development of computing methods despite his unassuming manner. His SHELX programs for structure solution and refinement have shaped the field and their use has been key to innumerable projects. The same is valid for his contribution to data processing and analysis in the programs he wrote for Bruker detectors. Only those young to crystallography will have missed that while typically our papers are scored by the impact factor of a journal, one paper of George rocketed the impact factor of the journal Acta Crystallographica A from 2.05 to 54, surpassing that of Science, Nature or Cell in the year 2010. This establishes how many scientific projects must have been aided by George´s insightful work and bright solutions. Those of us who have had the privilege to meet George in person also know him for his passion for problem solving, originality, sense of humour and deep humanity. George has touched the lives and careers of so many group members, providing a work environment that was simultaneously sheltered and free. He was always receptive to our ideas, encouraging our independence, providing the means to support them and giving us credit for what we accomplished. At the same time, we were spared the financial worries or conflicts attached to any institute. If Goethe was right in writing that character is built in the tempest of life while talent requires the calm, George shaped the optimal environment to develop our talents. An unusual trait of George is that he always pondered what people said, not who said it. Experience shows that humans are more ready to value what their friends, allies and referents state as being correct and search for reasons why their competition must be wrong! This lack of prejudice may explain why George´s research group was always most diverse: he gave everyone fair opportunities. In lectures, talks or conversations, George would explain complicated concepts making them come across as compellingly simple. His teaching would always prompt critical thinking, as when he faked a nuclear explosion producing a mushroom in his chemistry lecture with experiments. This was the 80´s and half of the audience started an im promptu demonstration against nuclear power before being absorbed in the debate of why this was impossible and the analysis of what experiment had really taken place. Working with George was inspiring and fun, it covered a broad range of interests in chemistry, geology and biology evolving along the years. In Cambridge and Göttingen, George closely supervised more than a hundred theses. Former students and co-workers would frequently stop in Göttingen and pop up to join the coffee time, where daily group discussions would take place. Many of us have kept in touch ever since, resorted to him for advice or just for the pleasure of discussing science and puzzling problems. George Sheldrick will be missed. Regine Herbst-Irmer and Isabel Usón If you would like to express your condolences to George´s family, please use the following email address: [email protected] |
We invite you to share any cherished memories, stories, or photos of George in the comments below, so we can all celebrate the extraordinary legacy he leaves behind.
One of my most cherished memories of George was during one conference where Jeanette and I were presenting a poster on our ScrALS project. There was a young researcher also presenting her poster on macromolecular work she had done next to us. George came up and started to ask Jeanette and I a question, and noticed the young lady standing there, mouth agape. It was clear she knew who he was. She stammered out a question "Are you THE George Sheldrick?" To which George replied, in his dry sense of humor "Yes I am. Unless someone is walking around here impersonating me." He was gracious, mindful, gifted and a champion of our science. His contribution to our field cannot be overstated.