Pioneering Science Editor Michael Kenward Dies at 80

Michael Kenward, a pioneering figure in science communication, passed away last month at the age of 80. Kenward served as the editor of New Scientist magazine from 1979 to 1990, a period during which he significantly reshaped the publication.

When Kenward took over, New Scientist was considered a distinguished but somewhat insular "house journal" of the British scientific community. Kenward set out to make the magazine more accessible to the general public, focusing on ensuring that every article was comprehensible to a lay audience. He also placed a strong emphasis on design and illustration, transforming the magazine's covers into award-winning works of art.

Under Kenward's leadership, New Scientist's circulation soared as it became a widely popular science publication. Kenward was a vocal advocate for British science, which he felt was under threat during the Thatcher years. "I've tried to get the media interested in science. Someone has to campaign for science to be treated as part of life," he said upon leaving the magazine in 1990.

Kenward's legacy extends beyond his work at New Scientist. He was a founding member of the Committee on the Public Understanding of Science, and he continued to contribute to various publications, including the Sunday Times and the Science Business news service, until his passing.