From Rht genes in wheat to PIN genes in sorghum: A life in crop science
Abstract
This seminar takes a big-picture look at a career in crop science, tracking Professor Borrell’s research from his early days at The University of Melbourne studying Rht genes in wheat, to his 25-year stint with the Queensland Government investigating drought adaptation in cereals, finishing with his more recent research at The University of Queensland on PIN genes in sorghum. It’s a story of how team research combines discovery science with impact. Andrew will also address the question of what motivates us to do scientific research anyway. He will focus on his early- to mid-career with the aim of highlighting some learnings that might have relevance to younger scientists.
Professor Andrew Borrell
Professor Andrew Borrell is a crop physiologist with the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation at The University of Queensland. His research interests include the physiological/molecular basis of drought adaptation in cereals, focusing on traits that impact water supply and demand, the efficiency with which resources are utilized by crop plants, and novel water-saving technologies for rice-based cropping systems in Asia. He is particularly interested in the nexus between climate change, water, agriculture, and food security. Andrew is a Churchill Fellow and has previously served as Centre Leader of Hermitage Research Facility for more than a decade.
Project funding acknowledgements
Major funders of Professor Borrell’s research have been The Queensland Government, The University of Queensland, The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Generation Challenge Program (CGIAR), The Australian Research Council (ARC), The Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and The German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG).
Professor Andrew Borrell, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Agriculture and Food Innovation E: a.borrell@uq.edu.au
For any questions, please contact the QAAFI Science Seminar Committee.
For any questions, please contact the QAAFI Science Seminar Committee.
About Science Seminars
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation hosts science seminars across the disciplines of animal, horticulture, crop, food and nutritional sciences.
With a range of speakers from Australia and abroad, the series explores how high-impact science will significantly improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the tropical and sub-tropical food, fibre and agribusiness sectors.
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The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation is a research institute at The University of Queensland supported by the Queensland Government via the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
