John Maddox (1925- 2009)

Deputy Director General Principles, Law & IHL Department Iranian Red Crescent Society John Maddox who was editor of Nature during 1966-73 and 1980-95, transformed the journal from a collegially amateurish publication into a challenging and professional in assessment of science and in scientific journalistic reportage.John Royden Maddox exerted an influence on science and the politics of science that was unequalled by any journalist or editor in recent years.He won a scholarship to university of oxford to read chemistry. He wished a professional ideal which was changing the Nature into an attractive magazine for reading and studying for the public, scientists and researchers.Maddox had published two offshoots “Nature New Biology” and “Nature Physical Science “. His efforts resulted in the publishing of Nature, three times a week, at that time. Nature Genetics was the first to appear in 1992 that was a precious success. Maddox’s several books, especially what remains to be discovered (Freepress, 1997) attracted wide attention. In 1996, John Maddox was knighted for his services to science and in 200 he was elected an honorary fellow of the Royal society.In 1995, he retired from Nature after a total 22 years in the editorial chair. John Maddox passed away on 12 April 2009.