The University of Adelaide’s Professor Peter Langridge has been named South Australia’s 2011 Scientist of the Year.

 

Professor Langridge, who is CEO of the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG) at the Waite Campus, won the award in recognition of his contribution to improving agricultural products in South Australia over a 30-year career.

 

Peter Langridge first joined the University of Adelaide as a lecturer in agricultural biochemistry in 1984. He became Professor in Plant Science at the University of Adelaide in 1998, and CEO of the ACPFG, which he helped to establish, in 2003.

 

Professor Langridge pioneered the use of molecular markers in cereal breeding. His research interests are in the area of deploying genetic technologies and new strategies to improve the breeding of cereal crops. He has recently chaired a Federal Government committee examining issues of food security.

 

"I am very honoured to be recognised in this manner; science is a fabulous career. We are now making a significant contribution to cereal science internationally and this has been made possible by the great support we have had from our funders. It was also fabulous to see the younger scientists recognised last night, they were a very impressive group,” Professor Langridge said.