Maurice H. F. Wilkins

Abstract

When it was first suggested that I speak at this Commemoration of Reinhard Dohrn, Dr. Peter Dohrn asked me to give an account of the achievement of the Stazione Zoologica in basic biological sciences while Reinhard Dohrn was director. When I began to consider the scientific achievements of the Stazione I realised, as many others have done, that they could not be understood properly without taking into account the remarkable personality of Reinhard Dohrn. Moreover, to understand the style of Reinhard Dohrn as a scientific organiser and his great success in enabling scientists to express their research potential, one needs to take into account the historical background to his life and work and to place him in a cultural perspective. Of course, to speak in such terms of Reinhard Dohrn, a man of such deep humanity, may appear presumptuous. The spirit of any man, especially such a man, cannot be enclosed in words. But I think if Reinhard Dohrn were to hear me now his eyes would twinkle with a touch of irony; he would understand what I am aiming at in these remarks; my presumption would be forgiven. To be asked to speak of Reinhard Dohrn, such a fine person, is not so much an honour but a humbling experience, especially when there are here many of you who were privileged to have known him better than I did.