Professor James France, Professor Emeritus at the University of Guelph (Canada), passed away on December 22, 2024. His contributions to mathematical modelling in agricultural sciences are unparalleled. He is survived by his wife Judith, three sons and four grandchildren.
Born on October 30, 1949, in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, UK, Dr France obtained his BSc (Hons) in Mathematics from Cardiff University and PhD from the University of Hull. He began his career as a specialist in mathematical modelling of all aspects of animal physiology, with a focus on rumen function, digesta passage and dairy cow nutrition. Together with John H.M. Thornley, they published the classic book Mathematical Models in Agriculture. Their work on mathematical modelling is serving as a foundation for understanding and predicting the behaviour of agricultural and ecological systems through quantitative methods. He worked on a dynamic simulation model of rumen function with colleagues from Wageningen University. At the University of Guelph, he founded and led the Centre for Nutrition Modelling. He was one of the pioneers in modelling nutrient digestion and utilisation in farm animals. Dr France was an accomplished researcher who published 10 books and about 865 research articles, which have been cited more than 31,900 times. He was a visiting professor at the University of California, Davis, Wageningen University, the University of León, and Newcastle University. As a young researcher, I was keenly interested in following his mathematical modelling in animal nutrition when I was pursuing my master's at NDRI, Karnal. But the mathematical modelling was not digested by me, as the complicated models were not understood by me, and no one was there to guide or supervise. Therefore, I was unable to follow the area of modelling. However, it will undoubtedly help many future researchers and aid in understanding various functions.
We will certainly miss him and his contributions to science and academics.
https://www.bsas.org.uk/news/remembering-professor-james-france#:~:text=James%20was%20a%20distinguished%20scholar,and%20honour%20of%20knowing%20him.
