As an editor, Dan brought his good humor to a task that requires diplomacy and thick skin. At PNAS (Editor-in-Chief, 1980–1984), Dan was one of the first editors to impose external standards on the publication of Academy members’ contributed papers. Few aside from Dan would have dared face down Linus Pauling and some of his questionable views on the efficacy of megadoses of vitamin C. In 1985, at age 65, Dan took the position of Editor-in-Chief of Science (from 1985 to 1995), a job that had previously been considered full-time but which Dan handled part-time along with his research and a leadership role in the reorganization of life science departments at Berkeley. Before Dan, Science had a respectable but conservative portfolio and was not considered the most appealing venue for top-flight original research reports. With his broad network of colleagues in the physical and life sciences and his keen insights about people, Dan rebuilt Science with an independent staff of in-house editors and expert external board members. During his 10-year term, the impact factor of Science more than doubled, bringing it on par with Nature and Cell.
From this tribute (in PNAS) to Daniel E Koshland, who passed away recently.
