Person

Bergersen, Fraser John (1929 - 2011)

AO FAA FRS

Born
26 May 1929
Hamilton, New Zealand
Died
3 October 2011
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Occupation
Plant biochemist

Summary

Fraser Bergersen, a highly regarded plant scientist, specialised in legume nutrition. He spent much of his working life with the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Division of Plant industry in Canberra where he was leader of the Rhizobium Research Group (1964-1977), Chairman of the Microbiology Section (1966-1977) and Program Leader of the Nitrogen in Agriculture Project from 1979 to 1985. Bergersen was also involved in a number of national and international societies, holding several key positions.

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Details

Chronology

1952
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand
1952 - 1954
Career position - Researcher in the Department of Bacteriology, University of Otago
1954
Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Otago
1954 - 1972
Career position - Research Officer at the Division of Plant Industry at CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) in Canberra
1958 - 1959
Career position - Research Associate in the Bacteriology Department, University of Wisconsin, USA
1962
Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of New Zealand
1966 - 1974
Career position - Member, Subcommittee PC, International Biological Program
1966 - 1977
Career position - Chairman, Microbiology Section, CSIRO Division of Plant Industry
1968
Award - David Rivett Memorial Lecturer
1969 - 1974
Career position - Regional Editor, Soil biology and biochemistry
1971 - 1979
Career position - Member, Advisory Committee on Research in Agriculture in New South Wales
1972 - 1994
Career position - Chief Research Scientist at the CSIRO Division of Plant Industry
1979 - 1985
Career position - Program Leader Nitrogen in Agriculture, CSIRO Division of Plant Industry
1981 - 2011
Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS)
1985 - 2011
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
1987 - 1993
Career position - Council member of the Australian Academy of Science
1989 - 1993
Career position - Foreign Secretary, Australian Academy of Science
1993 -
Career position - Australian correspondent of the Council of the Royal Society, London
1994 -
Career position - Visiting Fellow in the Division of Life Sciences, Australian National University in Canberra
1994
Life event - Retired
1994 - 1997
Career position - Honorary Research Fellow at the CSIRO Division of Plant Industry
2000
Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to scientific research in the field of microbiology, particularly through the study of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes leading to improved crop performance in Australia and Asia

Related Corporate Bodies

Archival resources

Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science

  • Fraser John Bergersen - Records, 1952 - 1996, MS 197; Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science. Details

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

Journal Articles

  • Anon, ' Fraser Bergersen', Australian Academy of Science newsletter, 86 (2011), 15. Details
  • Bergersen, F. J., 'Research on Biological Nitrogen Fixation in CSIRO Plant Industry, 1952-1998', Historical Records of Australian Science, 13 (3) (2001), 255-300. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR0011330255. Details
  • Brockwell, John; Sprent, Janet I.; and Day, David A., 'Fraser John Bergersen AM FAA. 26 May 1929 - 3 October 2011', Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 59 (2013), 33-58, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbm.2013.0004. Details
  • Brockwell, John; Sprent, Janet I.; and Day, David A., 'Fraser John Bergersen 1929-2011', Historical Records of Australian Science, 24 (1) (2013), 53-79, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR12019. Details

Resources

Resource Sections

See also

  • Who's who in Australia 1995 (Melbourne: Information Australia Group, 1995), 1622 pp. Details

Annette Alafaci

Created: 13 September 2005, Last modified: 24 April 2023

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