AUSTRALIAN FRONTIERS OF SCIENCE, 2008
The Shine Dome, Canberra, 21-22 February
Dinner speaker
Dr Jim Peacock
Jim Peacock was appointed Australian Chief Scientist in March 2006. Dr Peacock is an outstanding scientist with a record of academic excellence and is highly respected by the science, engineering and technology community.
Dr Peacock is an award winning molecular biologist and fervent science advocate. He is recognised internationally as an eminent researcher in the field of plant molecular biology and its applications in agriculture.
In 1994, he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for outstanding service to science, particularly in the field of molecular biology and to science education. Dr Peacock is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, Fellow of The Royal Society of London, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, a Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences and a Foreign Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy.
In 2000 he was a co-recipient of the inaugural Prime Minister's Science Prize, for his co discovery of the Flowering Switch Gene – a key gene that determines when plants end their vegetative growth phase and begin flowering. This discovery will help boost the productivity of the world’s crops and could also help increase the nutritional value of crops eaten around the world.
He was also awarded the BHP Bicentennial Prize for the pursuit of excellence in science and technology and the Australian Academy of Science’s Burnett Medal for distinguished contributions in the biological sciences.
Dr Peacock has gained valuable experience working in industry having founded the Gene Shears biotechnology company and instituted the GrainGene initiative and the HRZ Wheat Company – linking research with the production of new wheat varieties for Australia. He played a key role in the establishment of cotton as Australia’s first highly successful biotech crop.
Dr Peacock is a strong advocate for the integration of science and global business. He drives innovative communication efforts to inform the general public as to the outcomes and value of modern science. He has brought the excitement of science to a broad cross-section of the community and to Australian
school students.
