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New Head of Department for University of Melbourne Creswick Campus
The University of Melbourne’s Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science has recently welcomed their new Head of Department, Associate Professor Gerd Bossinger, a leading expert in tree genetics, to be based at the Creswick campus. The department is Australia’s largest combined research, development and education provider dedicated to forests, forest products and forested landscapes, and is based in the Melbourne School of Land and Environment.
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Sharnie Bilston, Marketing, Communications and Education Co-ordinator, Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science, University of Melbourne, Ph: 5321 4321, 0409 895 579, Email: sbilston@unimelb.edu.au
Dr Nerissa Hannink, Media Officer, University of Melbourne, Ph: 8344 8151, 0430 588 055, Email: nhannink@unimelb.edu.au
Assoc. Prof. Gerd Bossinger joined the University of Melbourne in 1996. In addition to his recent Head of Department appointment, he is also the Group Leader for the Forest Molecular Biology and Genetics research laboratory. The group aims to uncover links between gene structure and function and their relevance to diversity in native forests, as well as identifying important commercially-relevant genetic traits in the regulation of wood formation and wood quality in forest trees.
The research group is currently involved in collaborative research efforts with many Australian and international research organizations.
“I am delighted to be taking on the role as Head of the Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science at the University of Melbourne. It will be extremely rewarding to play a major role in the future of forestry research and education in Australia,” says Assoc. Prof. Bossinger.
Assoc. Prof. Bossinger enters the role at an exciting time. Among the many research, teaching and knowledge exchange activities that will be taking place throughout the year, 2010 also marks the Centenary of Forest Education in Australia and the Creswick campus, with celebrations currently being planned. The year also marks the first class of graduating students to enter the workforce from the Master of Forest Ecosystem Science that was introduced in 2008.
Research at the Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science encompasses topics and issues including climate change mitigation, carbon accounting, bushfire science, water quality, ecosystem services, biodiversity, biosecurity, tree genomics, renewable resources, biomass energy, sustainable forest management and forest operations, environmentally friendly wood products and more.
Since completing his post-graduate research and PhD in Germany, Assoc. Prof. Bossinger worked at the Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Germany (from 1985 to 1992) and in Australia at Monash University’s Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology (from 1992 to 1995).
Assoc. Prof. Bossinger brings a wide range of experiences and expertise to his new role. He is currently the University of Melbourne’s main representative for the Co-operative Research Centre for Forestry (CRC-F).
Further information on the Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science activities, events and updates can be found on the website – www.forestscience.unimelb...
