Sir Geoff Palmer, a groundbreaking scientist whose research significantly advanced the brewing and malting industries, has died at the age of 85. Widely respected for his academic achievements, he was also a tireless advocate for racial equality and historical awareness, becoming one of the most influential public intellectuals in modern Scotland.
Palmer’s long association with Heriot-Watt University began in the 1960s and culminated in his appointment as Scotland’s first Black professor in 1989 and later as Chancellor of the university in 2021. In 1989, he helped establish the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling with support from the Scotch Whisky Association, placing Heriot-Watt firmly on the map as a global leader in brewing science.
Born in Jamaica and arriving in the UK shortly before his 15th birthday, Palmer overcame significant social and educational hurdles. Initially labelled "educationally sub-normal", he went on to earn a PhD in grain science and technology and dedicated his life to research, education, and equality. He was knighted in 2014 for services to science, human rights, and charity and received Scotland’s highest royal honour, the Order of the Thistle, in 2024. His portrait was featured in 2023 in Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generation, commissioned by King Charles III.
In the broader public sphere, Palmer led the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review Group, advocating for historical truth-telling. Rather than supporting the removal of monuments linked to slavery, he called for plaques that would honestly reflect their history, stating, “if you remove the evidence, you remove the deed.”
One of his most notable contributions to brewing science was the development of the barley abrasion process, a laboratory technique that improved water uptake and enzyme activity by mechanically scuffing the husk of barley grains. Although the method was a major breakthrough in understanding malting kinetics and received international scientific recognition, including the Award of Distinction from the American Society of Brewing Chemists, it was not widely adopted by commercial maltsters due to practical limitations in large-scale production.
Palmer’s legacy also extends to Africa, where he helped local brewers in the 1980s develop alternatives to European malt, improving livelihoods for small-scale farmers. He published several works on race and identity, including Mr White and the Ravens and The Enlightenment Abolished.
He is survived by his wife Margaret Wood, their son Ralph, and daughters Susie and Catherine. Sir Geoff Palmer passed away on June 12, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of scientific excellence, social justice, and educational empowerment.
