Leading Australian fruit fly biologist Professor Tony Clarke has been awarded the 2014 Mackerras Medal by the Australian Entomological Society, in recognition of his significant career and contribution to science.
Professor Clarke is the national Chair of Fruit Fly Biology, a joint Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (PBCRC) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) position, and is currently leading PBCRC's development of a twenty year national Fruit Fly Research Development and Extension (RD&E) plan, to control exotic and endemic fruit fly species in Australia.
The award recognises Professor Clarke's outstanding international reputation in fruit fly ecology. He leads the QUT fruit fly research group (QUT-FFRG), the most active fruit fly research group in Australia and one of the largest in the world.
"Professor Clarke is a very worthy recipient of this prestigious award, in terms of both leadership and scientific excellence" said Dr Michael Robinson, CEO of the Plant Biosecurity CRC.
"He has been a major contributor to global efforts to resolve fruit fly species, with implications for international trade, while his work on developing a novel lure and kill device for female fruit flies will be a significant step towards total control of Queensland fruit fly."
Fruit fly is a worldwide agricultural pest affecting both food security and global trade, costing Australia approximately $300 million a year to control and in lost markets, with over 75 per cent of Australian fruit and vegetable exports susceptible. Continued R&D is critical to controlling the species in Australia, reducing grower production costs and increasing market opportunities.
Professor Malcolm Cox, Acting Head of School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences at Queensland University of Technology said Professor Clarke helped ensure a global approach to biosecurity.
"Tony's leadership and the quality of his research on fruit fly control for crop protection is a vital part of an overall QUT focus to ensure food security," Professor Cox said.
"Tony's achievements have not only built an effective QUT research group but are helping unite expertise across the globe," he said.
The Mackerras Medal is the Australian Entomological Society's highest award and is given every two years to a member of the Society under 50 years of age who has demonstrated excellence in entomology.
More information and interviews:
Tony Steeper, PBCRC Communications Manager,
0417 697 470,
t.steeper@pbcrc.com.au
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Rose Trapnell, QUT Media,
07 3138 2361 or 0407 585 901,
rose.trapnell@qut.edu.au
