The Legacy of Olaf Sparre Andersen and Future Directions of the Journal of General Physiology

Olaf Andersen stepped down from the editorship of the JGP on June 30th. As his successor, I take this opportunity to thank Olaf for his tireless dedication to the Journal and to present some thoughts on how we can build on his legacy. Olaf Sparre Andersen was recruited to the editorial board of the Journal of General Physiology in 1981 by the then editor, Paul F. Cranefi eld. Olaf became associate editor in 1984 and assumed the editorship in 1995. Olaf ' s tenure has been a period of remarkable health and stability for the Journal. Olaf ' s knowledge of and passionate devotion to the fi eld of general physiology and membrane biophysics in particular is vast, and he has applied this knowledge and passion daily to managing the scien-tifi c mission of the Journal. Thanks to his steady and in-sightful leadership, JGP has become a brand name that conveys scientifi c rigor, quality, and integrity and commands universal respect among physiologists. Olaf came from Denmark to the U.S. in 1971 on a post-doctoral fellowship. In 1973 he began his academic career at Cornell University Medical College as an assistant professor of Physiology and Biophysics and rose rapidly in rank, achieving that of Professor in 1982. Olaf focused early on the biophysics of lipid membranes and ion channels. In 1981 he published his fi rst paper on the gramicidin A channel, a topic that has been a touch-stone for a highly productive and still very active research career. With the liberation of some of the energy that he has devoted to the Journal, a burst of interesting and important scientifi c contributions by Olaf can be eagerly anticipated. In addition to his leadership at the Journal and his productive scientifi c career, Olaf is also a redoubtable citizen who contributes generously and unassumingly to every institution to which he belongs. This larger perspective has inspired his management of the Journal and has informed many deliberations and decisions regarding the Journal. Stepping away from the editorial helm of the Journal, Olaf leaves behind shoes too large for any individual to fi ll. Despite my misgivings — and with admiration for Olaf ' s principled management style — when asked to serve as his successor, I agreed in hopes of continuing in his footsteps, if not in his shoes. Nonetheless for this commitment, you, the authors, reviewers, and readers of the …