Dear Colleagues,

Today marks the first anniversary of the passing of Dr. Ian Stirling on 14 May 2024.

The Society for Marine Mammalogy pauses to remember and celebrate his extraordinary life and enduring legacy.

Ian was a pioneer in polar bear ecology and one of the world’s foremost authorities on Arctic marine mammals. Over a career spanning more than five decades, his work transformed our understanding of polar bears, seals, and other marine mammals across both polar regions. His meticulous long-term studies revealed the profound effects of climate change on Arctic ecosystems, and he was among the earliest scientists to articulate the risks posed by sea ice loss to polar bears.

Ian was a charter member and Life Member of the Society for Marine Mammalogy and served as its President from 1996 to 1998—the first Canadian to do so. He was also a founding member of the original editorial board for Marine Mammal Science and was honoured with the Society’s Norris Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2013. His influence extended beyond his own science: he mentored dozens of students, collaborated widely, and worked tirelessly to ensure that traditional knowledge and community partnerships informed wildlife research and conservation.

Ian’s deep commitment to science communication also left a lasting mark. His five books on polar bears helped bring the Arctic into the public imagination and remain essential reading for anyone seeking to understand these iconic animals and the threats they face.

On a personal note, I corresponded with Ian over many years and always looked forward to catching up with him at our biennial meetings. Some years ago, he sent me his original field notebooks from the late 1960s and early 1970s, when he was working on fur seals and sea lions at the South Neptune Islands in South Australia. They now sit in an archive box in my office titled The Stirling Chronicles—a gift I treasure deeply. That gesture, like so many of Ian’s, spoke to his kindness, generosity, and enduring passion for marine mammal science.

Ian was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and a cherished friend to many in our community. Even in retirement, he continued his fieldwork in the Arctic and Antarctic and remained an active voice for conservation. He was a remarkable scientist and human being who had an incredible impact on our field and on our Society.

We honour his legacy—with respect, gratitude, and remembrance.

Warm regards,
Simon Goldsworthy
President, Society for Marine Mammalogy