Wednesday, 27 November 2019, 9:43 amPress Release: University of Waikato

27 November 2019

Leading Plant PhysiologistProfessor Margaret Barbour welcomed as Dean of Science atUniversity of Waikato

Professor Margaret Barbour commencedher position as Dean of Science at the University of Waikatoon 18 November. She was previously Professor of PlantPhysiology in the School of Life and Environmental Sciencesat the University of Sydney.

Vice-Chancellor, ProfessorNeil Quigley says, We are delighted to welcome ProfessorBarbour back to the University of Waikato where she startedher tertiary education. Professor Barbour is a leadingexpert in her scientific field, and will be an asset inleading the School of Science into the future.

Experimental plant physiology is the focus of ProfessorBarbours research, and she is an internationallyrecognised expert in stable isotope effects duringphotosynthesis, respiration and transpiration of higherplants. She pioneered novel stable isotope techniques tomeasure isofluxes between plants and the atmosphere, as wellas developing an underlying theory to explain variation.

These techniques and theory have allowed newunderstanding of plant regulation of carbon and waterdynamics, with applications in crop production, plantecological physiology and paleoclimatic reconstruction fromtree rings.

Professor Barbour completed her Bachelor andMaster of Science from the University of Waikato, beforeheading overseas to complete her PhD in plant physiologyfrom the Australian National University (ANU).

Followingher PhD, Professor Barbour spent time at Landcare Researchin New Zealand, before moving back over the Tasman to takeup an Australian Research Council Fellowship at theUniversity of Sydney, and then more recently as AssociateDean of Research for the Faculty of Science.

I amdelighted to be back in my personal heartland, and excitedto contribute to the future of the University of Waikato,says Professor Barbour.

In this age of publicquestioning of scientific evidence, it is important that wescientists find new ways to connect our understanding withthat from other disciplines, with policy makers, and withthe public. I look forward to helping build theseconnections.

ENDS

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