Person
Pitman, Michael George (1933 - 2000)
FAA
- Born
- 7 February 1933
England - Died
- 30 March 2000
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia - Occupation
- Biologist and Chief Scientist
Summary
Michael Pitman was Australia's Chief Scientist from 1992 to 1996 and was Professor of Biology (Plant Physiology) at the University of Sydney for 17 years from 1966. His research focused on plant nutrition by seeking to understand the functions of parts of the plant in relation to the whole organism. He became one of the foremost authorities on whole-plant physiology. In 1983 Pitman became Director of the CSIRO Institute of Biological Resources with responsibility for eight Divisions whose programs centred on research and development to improve agricultural and forestry production and to manage the natural environment including land and water. As Chief Scientific Advisor to the Minister for Science Pitman played a key role in the production of the Prime Minister's Science and Technology Statement in 1989 which included a commitment to establish a Cooperative Research Centres Program. He chaired the CRC Committee as part of his role as Chief Scientist, developing the Program into a substantial and significant component of Australia's research enterprise.
Details
Chronology
- 1958 - 1962
- Career position - Demonstrator, Department of Botany, University of Cambridge
- 1959
- Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Cambridge
- 1959 - 1962
- Career position - Fellow, St John's College, Cambridge
- 1962 - 1966
- Career position - Lecturer, Department of Botany, University of Adelaide
- 1966 - 1983
- Career position - Professor of Biology (Plant Physiology), University of Sydney
- 1975 - 1978
- Career position - President, Australian Museum Trust
- 1975 - 1978
- Career position - Member, Australian Research Grants Committee
- 1978
- Award - Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- 1978 - 1984
- Career position - Member of Council, Australian Institute of Marine Science
- 1979
- Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Cambridge
- 1981 -
- Career position - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
- 1982 - 1983
- Career position - Member, Australian Science and Technology Council
- 1982 - 1984
- Career position - Chairman, Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, New South Wales
- 1983 - 1985
- Career position - Director, Institute of Biological Resources, CSIRO
- 1983 - 1986
- Career position - Member, Australian Biological Resources Advisory Committee
- 1985 - 1987
- Career position - Associate Member of Executive, CSIRO
- 1987 - 1988
- Career position - Deputy to Chief Executive, CSIRO
- 1988 - 1992
- Career position - Chief Scientific Adviser, Commonwealth Department of Industry Technology and Commerce
- 1992 - 1996
- Career position - Chairman, Co-ordination Committee on Science and Technology
- 1992 - 1996
- Career position - Chairman, Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Committee
- 1992 - 1996
- Career position - Executive Officer, Prime Minister’s Science and Engineering Council
- 1992 - 1996
- Career position - Chief Scientist, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
- 1997 - 1999
- Career position - Foreign Secretary, Australian Academy of Science
- 1997 - 2000
- Award - Fellow, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology
Related entries
Published resources
Journal Articles
- Boardman, Keith; Osmond, C; Ulrich, Barry and Luttge, 'Michael George Pitman 1933-2000', Historical Records of Australian Science, 14 (2) (2002), 193-208. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR02006. Details
Resources
- Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q6833554. Details
- VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/71450932. Details
- 'Pitman, M G (1933-2000)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-623946. Details
Resource Sections
- Spurling, T. H., 'Pitman, Michael George (1933 - 2000), botanist and chief scientist', in Australian dictionary of biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, Canberra, 2024, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/pitman-michael-george-32497. Details
- Ward, C., 'Michael George Pitman', in CSIROpedia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2011, https://csiropedia.csiro.au/Pitman-Michael-George. Details
Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn
Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 6 October 2023
- Foundation Supporter - Committee to Review Australian Studies in Tertiary Education