From Christian Pleijel

You noticed him because of the wide-brimmed hat and Hawaiian shirt, and because he was funny and very knowledgeable. He was as important as the ruler in a toolbox: it is not the tool with which you drill and joint, saw and nail, but without it nothing will be good, straight and well done.

He was a forerunner who in 1994 coined the term “nissology” (nisos is island in Greek), i.e. island science https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293227716_Nissology_A_proposal_for_consideration. He believed that islands should be described on their own terms. That’s what habitability is all about, that’s what he made me understand: it’s the islanders who should make use of the ruler.

He was an important researcher, a good teacher and a great speaker, creator of many memes.

He co-founded ISISA – the International Small Islands Studies Association – and he was its president for several periods. He knew a lot but he wasn’t a know-it-all. He was just himself in ISISA’s grand and difficult network of island scientists from all over the world who meet once every two years on an island. It was at such a conference that I met him for the first time, on the island of Lesvos in Greece in 2016. A strong and friendly person, confident with himself under the hat and in the colorful shirt.

R.I.P my friend.

In the following document, compiled by Prof Godfrey Baldacchino in Malta, many of Grant’s friends have written their parting words.