Allan Pentecost
Algal Taxonomist & Author
Despite winning a scholarship in physics and chemistry to Imperial College, Allan eventually graduated in Botany and has had a long-standing interest in freshwater algae, with numerous papers published in many fields.
He has led a varied career, with fields including astrobiology working with NASA scientists, working on Archaean fossils and modern cyanobacterium stromatolites. He became a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society in 1998.
Allan currently works on the chemistry of phosphorous in lake sediments, as well as analysing growth of freshwater algae Nostoc at a Cumbrian site, and the mechanics of filamentous cyanobacteria. He currently holds an emeritus position at King’s College London. Although his wife thinks him an extreme example of an academic, they do find time for other activities. They are regular fell walkers, favouring ravine exploration. They also indulge a little in the arts, as both like music of the Baroque period and have a copy of an early harpsichord which is played on a regular basis. Scarlatti and the Bachs are favourite composers.
