Edouard Poty: a bio- and bibliography

Abstract

'Generalist' is a qualifying word that best describes Edouard -'Eddy' -Poty in term of knowledge. He is not just a wellknown palaeontologist. Passionate in all branches of geology, he developed an exceptional background and became one of the very few feeling comfortable out of his area of expertise and capable of seeing the bridges connecting field observations. His research and publications do not necessarily reflect his wide knowledge but those who have or have had the chance to work with him know that Eddy is a living encyclopedia. Moreover, his interest largely crosses over the borders of geology and he can with erudition discuss archaeology, history, architecture, volcanoes, anthropology, literature, cuisine and wine! To understand the man, let us visit his career.Born in 1949 in Seraing, near Liège in Belgium, the young Eddy quickly found his interest in fossils after he discovered brachiopods in the excavation made for the construction of a bridge in Esneux. His first fossils… and the beginning of a lifelong passion for geology. During his childhood and teenage years, he used to search for fossils and minerals while on holiday with his parents, but also around Liège.In 1967, he entered the University of Liège to study geology (at that time 'Geological and Mineralogical Sciences') and learned from Prof. Bellière, Michot and Ubaghs among others. Four years later he presented his master's thesis on Viséan corals. His scientific career was not yet cast because military service was compulsory… but Eddy was not made for the uniform and the discipline which go along with the military. We find him back enrolled in civilian service as a mathematics teacher in Algeria. He spent a year teaching during the week and travelling through the desert during week-ends and holidays to explore the mountains and to collect fossils! Enchanted by Algeria, Eddy would reiterate the experience in the Congo and settled for two more years in Bounia. His life there, if his uncountable anecdotes are true, was epic and amazing.Back in Belgium in 1974, Eddy joined the University of Liège, where for two years he taught the practical classes in geology at the geography department for Prof. Macar. In 1976 he returned to the geology department with an IRSIA research grant to start a PhD under the direction of Prof. Ubaghs. He focused on a group untouched since the 1920's: the Lower Carboniferous rugose corals. Thus started his long-lasting and very friendly collaboration with Raphaël -'Raph' -Conil and his team at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve.