Ann Holbourn was a highly valued member of the paleoceanography and paleoclimate community. One small part of Ann’s impressive career was leading MioOcean as a member of its Steering Committee, as well as serving as an active member of the MioAge team within MioOcean.
Over a career that encompassed so much more than the Miocene, Ann produced 283 research works, accumulating more than 10,000 citations, and was recognised as a top-ranked scientist in her field. Yet for the rest of the team, and probably for everyone who worked with her, it was through knowing Ann personally — as a teacher, mentor, and colleague — as much as through her scientific contributions, that she truly came to embody Miocene paleoceanography. Sadly, Ann did not live to see the products of MioOcean, having passed away early in 2026.
While we miss her knowledge, professionalism, and grace, Ann’s legacy endures in every dataset collected, every student mentored, and every question she helped bring into focus. Her contributions to Earth science are woven into the fabric of our field and will continue to inform, inspire, and guide for years to come. For that enduring gift, we are profoundly grateful.