The STEPS Centre’s directors, members and partners are sad to have learnt of the sudden death of David Dickson (1947-2013), the founding director of SciDev.Net.

David played an important part in the STEPS Centre, serving for five years as a member of our inaugural Advisory Committee and generously sharing his unrivalled expertise in the communication of science for development.

His relationship with the Centre continued after his term on the Committee and in May of this year, David kindly took part in a communications session for the Centre’s summer school, giving students from around the world an insight into writing about development issues.

SciDev.net have published an obituary, detailing David’s illustrious career as a science journalist for which, last year, he received a lifetime achievement award from the Association of British Science Writers. He will be missed.