Obituary— Prof. Ralph Kenna

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our esteemed Editorial Board Member in Entropy, Prof. Ralph Kenna, who left us in October 2023. His contributions to our journal were invaluable, and his legacy will be preserved within Entropy. His absence leaves a void that will be deeply felt by all those who had the privilege of working with him.

Prof. Kenna was an Irish mathematician and theoretical physicist who was born in Athlone (Ireland). He was the head of the research group Statistical Physics of Complex Systems at Coventry University, which participated in prestigious European projects and collaborative initiatives. Prof. Kenna had very diverse interests ranging from statistical physics (especially phase transitions and critical phenomena) and complex systems to Irish mythology. An imaginative and enthusiastic researcher,  of inspiration for his collaborators and students.

Prof. Kenna joined the Editorial Board of the Section “Statistical Physics” in 2020, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise in his field. In the same year, he edited a Special Issue titled “Phase Transitions and Emergent Phenomena: How Change Emerges through Basic Probability Models”, which garnered significant attention from the scientific community.

Throughout his tenure as Editorial Board Member, Prof. Kenna worked closely with the other editorial members and staff and played an instrumental role in the day-to-day operations of our journal. His loss is deeply felt by all of us at Entropy, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.