Prof. dr. em. Philip Polk, marine biologist and pioneer of the scientific collaboration between Belgium and Kenya, has passed away. He was 82.

In 1984, Prof. Polk, connected to the Free University of Brussels (Belgium), was asked by the Flemish Government to travel to Kenya and explore opportunities for scientific collaboration. Under his wings, the Kenya-Belgium Project (KBP) in marine sciences lifted off in 1985. One of the major achievements of the project was the set-up of the largest oyster culture in Africa, but also capacity building played an enormous role. Many Kenyans were trained in Belgium, and many Belgian students and professors visited Kenya for collaborative research. This gave rise to a community of people who know, respect and trust each other. Therefore, it is an honour that the memory of Prof. Polk lives on through the continous collaborations, arisen from his hand. Prof. Polk was an inspiration to many and he will be dearly missed in the world of marine sciences and beyond.