Leicester pays tribute to scientist and humanitarian Sir Geoff Palmer

The University of Leicester has paid tribute to one of the institution’s most respected graduates: renowned scientist and humanitarian Professor Emeritus Sir Geoff Palmer KT OBE.

Sir Geoff, who died in June aged 85, was a renowned scientist, humanitarian, and the former Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University. 

Hundreds of people attended a memorial celebration of his life at St Giles’ Cathedral, in Edinburgh, on Friday 10 October.

Sir Geoff graduated from the University of Leicester’s Botany course in 1964, and was later awarded an honorary doctorate by the institution in 2016 – and a student accommodation block was named after him in 2022. Sir Geoff was also the recipient of a lifetime achievement award, presented to an alumna or alumnus who has excelled in their career, and whose life’s work has made a substantial contribution to their field or society, and who is an exemplary role model.

Leicester President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, provided a moving written reflection of Sir Geoff’s time at the University as part of the memorial celebration.

It is reproduced below.

Geoff -The Student

Over half a century before the University of Leicester coined the phrase ‘Citizens of Change’, in order to describe its community empowered through education to make an impact on the world, Geoff Palmer embodied that value.

He was an intellectual giant – a trailblazer who inspired others and he created a huge legacy. I am so proud that Leicester played a pivotal role in shaping his life. He recalled how he came to Leicester during an era when the Keep Britain White racism was endemic. He said he applied to various universities in 1961 but was rejected – until Leicester accepted him, and from where he graduated with a degree in Botany in January 1965. 

On the occasion of returning to Leicester in 2016 to receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Science, Geoff revealed to the orator that his final year project at Leicester was the basis of all his subsequent research.

In an interview with The Royal Society, he said: “As an undergraduate I was very much aware of Robert Hooke’s 1665 microscopic studies and their association with the Royal Society. In my research work, the relationship between structure and function was applied where relevant. I applied this concept in my PhD studies to show that the enzymes that digested the food reserves of the grain and converted barley into malt in industry did not emanate from the germinated embryo. We published in Nature 1967 that the aleurone layer (part of the bran) was the main source of enzyme production.”

In his speech to students at his graduation ceremony, Geoff said that the most significant thing that happened to him at Leicester was not his getting a degree. He told the congregation:

“A month after I arrived in October/November 1961 there was a young girl and she was going past the Percy Gee (Students’ Union) building and her bicycle had broken down. So I walked across the road and I said ‘can I help’ and of course I fiddled with the bicycle and I couldn't fix it because I was only a botanist. She thought I was an engineer.

“There were only about four minority ethnic students at the university then, and two of us decided - because we wanted to get to know the other members of the university - we set up what we called the International Society. The first thing we did after we got a grant from the Students Union was a party - just the two of us - and lo and behold guess who turned up?  The girl whose bicycle I ruined.”

Geoff recalled watching an Ella Fitzgerald concert in 1962, with the same girl in the very hall he was graduating from, and he proudly went on to say: “The University not only gave me a degree it gave me a wife and a family” and he invited his family to stand up to receive the applause of the audience. We were so pleased that Geoff, Margaret and family were able to join us for the official opening of our Freemen’s development in 2022, where a building is named after him, and it was clear that Leicester had made a lasting impact.

Geoff found love at Leicester and he loved Leicester – and we loved him right back. He was also the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from Leicester, presented to an alumna or alumnus who has excelled in their career, and whose life’s work has made a substantial contribution to their field or society, and who is an exemplary role model.

Geoff talked about the life lessons he learned at Leicester. He told graduating students: “As far as this University is concerned, I've done a bit of race relations work. One of the things it has taught me was that people are not just racist - people are people.  And, therefore, that's one of the messages I learnt when I left this university. People are people and I've tried to use that sort of knowledge I gained here in all the work I've done.”

He concluded about his time at Leicester with the following words: “In 1964 I did a project on water relations and one of the things my project showed was that a plant, during drought, tends to move water from the older parts of the plant to the youngest part of the plant which are the buds.  I was one of the buds of this University in 1964. I've tried to do my best and I wish you all the same as well. 

I had the honour of meeting Geoff and his family. He left a lasting impression as do these final words I quote from him and which resonate with me: “Regarding our history, my position is that we cannot change the past but we can change its consequences, such as racism, for the better through education.”

Our University has recorded his contribution, and the building that is named after him also reflects our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion which Geoff championed and for which he was a powerful advocate. Geoff’s impact is one that will resonate through the ages for generations of students.