Biophysicist named Senior Australian of the Year
Canberra scientist Dr Graham Farquhar has won the 2018 Senior Australian of the Year for work focused on food security and climate change.
After growing up with a Tasmanian farming family background, Graham has used his love of science to deliver practical benefits to the agricultural sector.
His study of mathematics and physics formed the bedrock of a career creating mathematical models of how plants work.
The 70-year-old has received a string of accolades during his distinguished career for his research examining how water efficient crops can protect food security in a changing climate.
Importantly, he has worked to improve world food security by developing strains of wheat that can grow with less water.
In 2017 Graham became the first Australian to win a Kyoto Prize – the most prestigious international award for fields not traditionally honoured with a Nobel Prize.
From his long-term base at the Australian National University, Graham is tackling some of the most profound challenges facing humanity and the environment.
Scientists were all the rage at the Australian of the Year ceremony with quantum physicist Professor Michelle Simmons taking out Australian of the Year honours.
What did you think of this year’s Australian of the Year winners?
Congratulations to them all, great to know we are up there with the rest of the world when it comes to our scientists.