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_Journal of Structural Geology 33 (2011) 188–191_ _Contents lists available at ScienceDirect_ _Journal of Structural Geology_ _journal homepage: www.elsevier.com locate jsg_ _Editorial_ _Preface: Flow of rocks – A Special Issue celebrating the contribution of Paul F. Williams to mentoring_ _This is the second Special Issue of this Journal dedicated to Paul F. Williams. The first one was a double issue published in 2001 (volume 23, Numbers 6–7) entitled Evolution of Structures in Deforming Rocks, honouring Paul’s scientific career. The current issue more specifically celebrates his contribution to mentoring. The papers in this issue are mostly from a special session at the 2009 Joint Assembly in Toronto of the American Geophysical Union, the Geological Association of Canada and five other geoscience organizations. We call the issue Flow of Rocks, after the title of a graduate course that Paul offered for over two decades._ _Paul’s contribution to mentoring is highlighted by his being awarded the first Mentorship Medal of the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences at the Joint Assembly (Fig. 1). We find it most fitting to start the Special Issue with the citation and acceptance remarks for the Mentorship Medal._ _Citation (By Bill Mercer, the President of the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences)_ _Mentoring is a critical part of professional and academic development and is vital to the health of the Science enterprise. The Mentorship Medal of the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences recognizes the sustained and inspirational mentorship of colleagues, employees and students. This medal has been struck in honour of Paul F. Williams, who is also its first recipient, for his outstanding achievements both as a mentor and as a scientist. This citation blends the words of no less than fourteen scientists from five countries, including his peers, collaborators, former students and post-doctoral fellows._ _Paul Williams was born in England in 1938. He obtained his B.Sc. from the University of Durham, England, in 1959 and his M.Sc. from the University of New South Wales, Australia, in 1965. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Sydney, Australia, in 1969. After serving as a Lecturer at the University of Townsville, Australia in 1968–69 and as an Assistant and Associate Professor at the State University of New York at Albany, U.S.A. from 1970 to 72, he became a professor at the Institute of Geology and Mineralogy at Leiden University in the Netherlands in 1972. His collaboration with Bruce Hobbs and Win Means in the early 1970’s (Fig. 2) led to the publication in 1976 of the textbook An Outline of Structural Geology which is regarded as one of the most influential structural geology textbooks of the 20th century. Paul moved to Canada in 1980, to serve as Professor and Chair of the Department of Geology at the University of New Brunswick. He officially retired in 2003 and has been a Professor Emeritus at UNB since._ _Paul Williams, a Distinguished Fellow of the Geological Association of Canada (GAC), is an internationally respected structural geologist who has tremendously influenced science and scientists around the world through his publications, collaborations, and mentoring. Among his many contributions to the Canadian Earth Sciences is the founding of the Canadian Tectonics Group. For almost 30 years now the group has held annual meetings and field workshops to provide an informal yet academically rigorous environment for Canadian structural geologists to present their work, and in particular for students to give their first professional talks._ _Few people, in Canada or beyond, have a track record in mentoring better than Paul Williams. Of the about 50 students and post-doctoral fellows Paul trained and mentored (Fig. 3), mostly_ _Editorial Journal of Structural Geology 33 (2011) 188–191_ _189_ _at the University of New Brunswick, 18 of them are now university professors or lecturers in Canada, USA, Australia, Africa, Asia, and Europe, 5 are scientists at government geological surveys in Canada and the USA, and many more have successful careers in the private sector throughout the world. Some have become global leaders in structural geology and tectonics and many are successful mentors themselves. Two former students have written influential textbooks, and at least three hold or have held senior editorial positions in leading international journals. Awards and honours received by former students and post-doctoral fellows in Canada include the GAC Hutchison Medal (twice), the GAC Mineral Deposit Division’s Gross Medal (twice), Governor-General’s Gold Medal (three times), the GAC Structural Geology and Tectonics Division’s Best Thesis Award (at least four times) and Best Paper Award (at least twice), and the Mary-Claire Ward Geoscience Award (once)._ _Paul is a tremendously skillful and devoted mentor. His approach varies from student to student, but some common themes are clear. He is critical and has high expectations of his students, and at the same time he is also caring, encouraging and helpful. Although a very busy person, Paul is generous with his time. He is stimulating and inspiring, encourages discussion, and freely shares his endless supply of ideas. His hands-off approach to supervision lets students build self confidence, but he is available to give timely advice when needed. His unparalleled field skills and his emphasis on rigorous field observations have also served his students and post-doctoral fellows well; Paul emphasized mapping and production of a geological map in his students’ theses. He also emphasized the importance of having an eye for detail – from thin sections to outcrops – and a mind for the whole – from orogens to global tectonics._ _Paul involves the members of his research group through the entire research process, from project definition to write-up. He is a model of integrity in scientific research and in personal relationships. He expects his students and post-doctoral fellows to act with similar integrity, to honour the data they collect, and to perform their professional responsibilities ethically and well. It is this expectation, and his ability to recognize and nurture potential in others, that makes him one of the most effective mentors. And once results are ready for publication, Paul doesn’t stand in the way of his protégés: he only agrees to be listed as a co-author when both he and the student agree that he has made substantial contributions – and when he agrees with the interpretations!_ _Paul treats his research group like a family. He and his wife, Pam – who deserves a medal in her own right – regularly bring the group into their home for food, entertainment and more. He and Pam have patiently ushered many young scientists through first loves, lost loves, homesickness, and existential angst of all kinds. Sure, he gives career guidance, but more than once he has been required to act as marriage counselor. Perhaps unknowingly, he and Pam have been and continue to be parenting role models._ _As in any family, Paul’s relationship with ‘his people’ does not end when they leave the nest. He steps in whenever asked to help secure post-doctoral positions, faculty positions, promotions, grant funding, and whatever else he can provide. This gift, however, comes with the expectation that protégés will act with integrity and high intellectual standards. And ‘his people’ know when they are missing the mark!_ _Paul’s contributions, both as a scientist and as a mentor, are highly appreciated by his peers and students alike. A joint Geological Association of Canada NUNA and Canadian Tectonics Group conference held in his honour in Canmore, Alberta in 1998 was attended by over 100 people from 11 countries on five continents; many of them were colleagues or former students (Fig. 3). The Journal of Structural Geology published a double issue in his honour in 2001. This Joint Assembly will have a special session and the Journal of Structural Geology is planning another special issue (the current issue) to celebrate his excellence in mentoring._ _In summary, Paul Williams embodies every ideal of good mentorship. It is my honour to present him with the inaugural Mentorship Medal of the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences._ _Acceptance remarks (By Paul F. Williams)_ _Fig. 2. Paul Williams with Win Means (left) and Bruce Hobbs (right) in Central Australia._ _It is a proud moment for me standing here today to receive the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences Fédération canadienne des sciences de la Terre Mentorship Medal. At the same time, I am humbled by the thought that there are many others at least as deserving. Gandhi is reputed to have said: “There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group – there is less competition.” I would like to think that I am from the first group, but here I am taking the credit. However, let me say that I am taking the credit on behalf of my students who have made me look good._ _Looking back on my career I realize what a sweepstake life is! What we do and how well we succeed depends largely on serendipity, which has been likened to “Looking for a needle in a haystack – and finding a milkmaid”. I have found more than my share of milkmaids – figuratively speaking that is!_ Ключевые слова: sciences, mentor, professor, discussion, milkmaid, van, serendipity, integrity, protgs, row, geological, eld, problem, understanding, paul, award, work, mentorship medal, york, led, bruno, journal, cees, earth sciences, kind, shoufa, science, time, young, held, outline, sc, scientist, paul williams, win, association canada, jiang, people, life, colleague, relationship, federation, issue, career, geological association, support, journal structural, geology, dazhi, address, ?ve, learnt, tectonics, editorial, approach, working, love, peer, elsevier, credit, thesis, department, current issue, pam, structural, citation, canada, mentoring, mentorship, canmore alberta, lafrance, e-mail, start, professional, completed, joint, shoufa lin, association, lecturer, position, ?rst, hobbs, group, emphasis, special session, structural geology, post-doctoral, honour, textbook, canadian, contribution, rock, jsg, unb, university, assembly, earth, canadian federation, bruce hobbs, ontario, williams, special issue, medal, fellow, special, lin, ha, federation earth, australia, deformation, curiosity, provide, critical, left, student post-doctoral, ?eld, increase, student, joint assembly, expectation, wa, friendship, gac, publication, post-doctoral fellow, bruce, rock deformation, rst group, geologist, agrees, brunswick