The global scientific community is mourning the loss of Jack D. Ives, a pioneering geographer and advocate for mountain research, who passed away on September 15, 2024, at the age of 92.
Ives was widely celebrated for his groundbreaking work in Arctic and alpine topography, and his contributions have left an enduring legacy in the field of geography.
Born in 1932 in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England, Ives’ passion for exploration began early and was further fueled by a transformative experience at age 15 when he sailed aboard a Grimsby fishing trawler in the Barents Sea.
This journey sparked a lifelong fascination with glaciers and mountainous terrains, leading him to pursue geography at the University of Nottingham, followed by a PhD from McGill University in 1956.
Ives’ career included significant interdisciplinary research on Baffin Island, and his leadership at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) in Boulder, Colorado, broadened his focus to global mountain ecosystems.
He co-authored notable publications such as The Himalayan Dilemma and Mountains of the World: A Global Priority, which advanced the study of mountain regions and the people living in them.
In recognition of his efforts, Ives was awarded the Royal Geographical Society’s Patron’s Medal in 2006 and the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal in 2015.
He is survived by his four children—Nadine, Tony, Colin, and Peter—and five grandchildren.
Jack D. Ives’ legacy will continue to inspire future generations of geographers and advocates for mountain ecosystems.