Professor Pier Luigi Nimis is an outstanding lichenologist and ecologist; he created the vibrant landscape of exciting lichenological research that exists in Italy today and is internationally recognised for his work on themes ranging from biomonitoring to databasing. The September Issue of The Lichenologist (2023) was dedicated to Pier Luigi on the occasion of his 70^th birthday and official retirement, and to mark the event three friends and colleagues kindly share some of their personal reflections here.

How did you come to know Pier Luigi?

Eva Barreno – My first memories about Pier Luigi go back quite a few years, but the images are fresh in my mind: a young “beanpole”, shy (apparently distant), standing on a balustrade, accompanying the great Professor of the European lichenologists in our generation, Joseph Poelt. Someone told me that he was Poelt’s pupil, he was chosen because was very smart and already knew a lot about lichens and plant ecology. Therefore, I went to meet him to try to get integration into this group of young people. I remember that it was at a scientific meeting, but I cannot recall the country or the date… we have had so many vital experiences!

Juri Nascimbene – Professor Nimis is my teacher in Lichenology and Botany in general. I owe to him the precious teachings that still guide my scientific activity, inspired by rigor and creativity. But beyond this, I am grateful for having transmitted to me the enthusiasm in research and teaching which is renewed by every small discovery or interactions with the students, and for the friendship that has developed between us over the years. Even today we work closely together, and I am always surprised by the energy and interest that animate him and that he transmits vividly. Sometimes, I smile to myself when I think about this capability to be amazed like a young student and to dedicate strong commitment while looking to the future even after many years of an academic career at the highest levels. I’m sure that we will still have many things to do together. Thanks Pier Luigi!

Domenico Puntillo – I met Pier Luigi Nimis in Catania during the Congress of the Italian Botanical Society 1984. That was an amazing meeting. Since that moment my personal interest for Botany has been dedicated to the lichen world, at that time still largely unknown and neglected. It was clear to me that the passion any beginners, as I was, had inside was not enough, and that methodology, appropriate tools and determination were required and essential. Pier has supported my passion and instilled in me the true, practical modes to investigate lichens. Pier has always supported me and my interests in this field of research. He just did it, simply, without academic arrogance, he was extremely communicative, generous in transmitting his knowledge and suggesting new ways to study, sharing always his friendship.

PLN’s Special Skills (contributed by EB)

EB – That he was clever and intelligent has already been more than proved for several reasons that I must necessarily summarize:

1) He is multilingual, I do not know anyone who is able to maintain a simultaneous conversation in Spanish, English, German and Italian, with fluency and proficiency.

2) He has an avant-garde view of using new technologies to computerize the catalogues of lichen floras, create worldwide and open databases as well as develop simple and accessible identification keys for non-specialists. He has an enthusiastic desire to disseminate lichens in schools and high schools that are incorporated in these databases. This includes the KeytoNature / Dryades Project, EU, where I was able to collaborate on the guide of the most common epiphytic lichens in Spain.

3) His vision led to the creation of the ITALIC Information System on Italian lichens, originating from the conversion of the first Italian checklist into a database. According to the paradigms of open science, we are now using the important biodiversity and ecological data incorporated in vs. 7.0, as well as the keys of several genera.

4) His knowledge in plant ecology allowed him to develop within Europe new methodologies to use lichens as biomonitors of pollution. His landmark publication in Science, in 1997, allowed all European researchers to implement the techniques in numerous territories, and this is now a great source of funding for Italian lichenology.

5) Not to forget the transcendental activity he carried out when elected President of the IAL, he managed to raise Lichenology to an unprecedented international level and increased the combined contributions of numerous lichenologists, until then over-dispersed, leading to the present important structure of the Association. Consequently, lichenology experienced an extraordinarily intense growth in several European countries.

Fond memories?

EB – We have talked a lot about science. I can remember when we met – a special mention to the Café de la Ópera in Madrid – and we collaborated on a thesis, Biomonitoring with Cyptogams near the Power Station of La Robla (León, Spain), and in the analysis of the Lichen-Induced Chromatic Changes on the Roman Amphitheater of Italica (S. Spain), as well as many other contributions.

Vicent Calatayud, Ove Eriksson and I have dedicated to him a new genus of lichenicolous fungi from Spain: Nimisiostella (Lecanorales inc. sed.). It could not be otherwise since the spores are star-shaped! And he is a “star of Lichenology”.

But, I want to highlight some of personal experiences, the expedition to Sardinia where he not only showed us the wonders of the ecosystems, but also the cultural aspects of the island (he, in Spanish language, is a “cultureta” which is a remarkable aspect of his personality). Moreover, he even took us to take a swim in the sea, that in a seashore located under some rocks covered with Diploicia subcanescens and Dirinaria spp., just to be collected…

No less important, were the walks around Venice, together with my sister, and a friend from California, besides giving us loan of his tiny but fantastic apartment, he shared with us the most important artistic routes, as well as illustrating the typical restaurants without tourists. Thanks again dear Pier Luigi. Finally, I cannot resist mentioning that “Jamón Ibérico” awakened his gastronomic passion when, during a meeting in Madrid, we took him to the typical Cervantes Cervecería (near the Palace Hotel) and offered him a taste of it. His impulse: buy a whole one right there, and he managed to take it with him to Italy.

A warm embrace from the heart, Eva.

DP – It was his way of being that has always added colour to the frequent excursions, and any other moment spent together and with many other colleagues, leading to strong relationships among Italian and foreign lichenologists. Pier Luigi is a big communicator, who merges science and communication. He deserves the merit of having reignited lichnology in Italy. But he is even more precious to me and all of our friends and colleagues who enjoyed his friendship and collaboration. Definitely, naming one new species after him is for me a still too poor recognition!

The Special Issue dedicated to Professor Pier Luigi Nimis in The Lichenologist is available to read and view online.