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Virus diseases pose one of the biggest threats to human survival - not just those that invade the human body, but those that reduce  crop yields, and threaten food security, especially in the developing world.

Professor Roger Jones from the School of Plant Biology has spent his working life working on controlling virus diseases in crops as diverse as grains, vegetables and pasture.

He has recently been honoured by the American Phytopathological Society (APS) for his dedication to the field.

It is a prestigious honour to be named a Fellow of the APS, with non-Americans members rarely being recognised in this way.

"I was excited when I heard my nomination had been successful and was able to travel to America to accept the honour," Professor Jones said.

"I was nominated as an APS Fellow by a plant virologist at Washington State University and seconded by a USDA plant virologist from Florida - both are well respected plant virus researchers who I have known for a long time."

Professor Jones hopes his new status will provide additional opportunities when he meets members of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation this week on the island of Zanzibar off the east coast of Africa, to discuss research projects aimed at controlling damaging virus diseases of cassava and sweet potato, food staples for a huge proportion of the world's population.

Professor Jones has a joint appointment between the Department of Agriculture and Food WA ( DAFWA ) and UWA. He began his DAFWA career in 1986 after working on the control of plant viruses at the International Potato Centre in Peru and at two UK institutions.

He said his research on plant virus epidemiology and integrated virus disease management was the major reason for the award.

"Over many years, I was able to undertake numerous field, glasshouse and laboratory studies throughout the state, including numerous large-scale field experiments at many of DAFWA's research stations.

"I have also had an excellent team of dedicated and highly professional staff in plant virology to work with.

"I have benefited greatly from generous funding of research projects by the Grains Research and Development Corporation and Horticulture Australia Limited over the years, and from very productive collaboration on Australian Research Council funded projects with UWA, culminating in a very successful joint appointment between DAFWA and UWA over the past four years."

The Institute of Advanced Studies is presenting a lecture by another eminent molecular plant virologist, Dr Joseph Ndunguru from the Ministry of Food and Cooperatives in Tanzania.

He will talk about the emerging biosciences capacity in Africa through a case study of the regional cassava virus disease diagnostic project.

Dr Ndunguru is involved with virus research co-funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Tanzania and neighbouring African states.

His lecture is hosted by Professor Jones and Dr Laura Boykin from the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

It is in the Webb Lecture Theatre, in the Geography and Geology building, at 6pm on Tuesday 18 November. The lecture is free, but you need to reserve a place .