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Internationally renowned soil scientist Professor David Hopkins will deliver the 2015 Hector and Andrew Stewart Memorial Lecture, hosted by The University of Western Australia's Institute of Agriculture, next month.

The public lecture entitled ‘ Soils and the ends of the Earth, and a few places in between' will illustrate the diversity of soils and their role in the ecosystem.  Professor Hopkins will also discuss how soils are being affected by environmental change.

Associate Director of The UWA Institute of Agriculture, Professor Daniel Murphy, said that with 2015 being the International Year of Soils , it was fitting that such a distinguished soil scientist should give the Hector and Andrew Stewart Memorial Lecture.

The memorial lecture is supported by the Hector and Andrew Stewart bequest fund at UWA and is in honour of the late Hon Hector J Stewart, MLC, and his son, the late Mr Andrew M. Stewart, both Wagin wool growers.  Mr Stewart Jr was President of UWA's Guild of Undergraduates in 1929 and was invited to join the teaching staff at the University in 1937. He was twice Dean of UWA's Faculty of Agriculture.

Professor Hopkins is Dean of Agriculture at the Royal Agricultural University in England.  His research interests cover soil management, and carbon and nutrient cycling in soils in both agricultural and natural ecosystems.  Amongst several notable positions, Professor Hopkins has been the President of the British Society of Soil Science and convenes the UK heads of soils science group.

The public lecture will be held at 5pm on Thursday, 19 March, in the MCS Lecture Theatre G:33, Bayliss Building, UWA.

Free visitor parking is available along Myers Street and Parkway.

Register for the event or visit The Institute of Agriculture for further information.

Media references

Diana Boykett (UWA Institute of Agriculture)  (+61 8) 6488 3756 / (+61 4) 04 152 262
David Stacey (UWA Media and Public Relations Manager)  (+61 8) 6488 3229 / (+61 4) 32 637 716