Bedding, Robin Anthony (1940 - )

Summary

Robin Bedding is an entomologist internationally recognised for his research on the taxonomy, physiology and ecology of parasitic nematodes of the sirex wasp. He joined the CSIRO Division of Entomology in Hobart in 1969 where he worked with Ray Akhurst to identify parasites for introduction to Australia to control the wasps causing immense damage to pine plantations. They selected a nematode that made female wasps infertile. Their work resulted in the collapse of sirex infestations in Australia, the renaming of the selected nematode as Beddingia srircidicola, and the establishment of the family Beggingidea. Bedding's further research was in exploring the possibility of using nematodes to control other insect pests including Black Vine and Banana Weevils and Blackcurrant Borer Moth. In 1988 Bedding moved to Canberra where he continued his work on the control of sirex. During his career he had extensive advisory roles in China, the U.S.A., Canada and South Africa. He also served on a number of committees relating to the control of sirex.

Details

Bedding received the following CSIRO awards:

1993 - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement for his work using nematodes to control insect pests;

1997 - Sir Ian McLennan Impact from Science and Engineering Award for his pioneering work the use of nematodes (unsegmented worms) for the traditional and novel biological control of a range of insect pests.

Chronology

1961

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), Imperial College, London

1965

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Imperial College, London

1965 - 1969

Career position - Research officer, Imperial College, Silkwood Park, United Kingdom

1969 - 1988

Career position - Research Scientist (later Chief Research Scientist), CSIRO Division of Entomology, Hobart

1988 - 2002

Career position - Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Entomology, Canberra

1993

Award - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement

1995

Award - Clunies Ross National Science and Technology Award, Ian Clunies Ross Memorial Foundation

1997 -

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

1997

Award - Sir Ian McLennan Impact from Science and Engineering Award, CSIRO

1998 -

Award - Fellow, Society of Nematologists

2001

Award - Centenary Medal for service to Australian society and science in chemistry

2002 -

Career position - CSIRO Honorary Fellow

2002

Life event - Retired

2018

Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to science in the field of entomology as a researcher, and to the forestry industry both nationally and internationally

Related entries

Published resources

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q67979152. Details
• 'Bedding, Robin Anthony (1940-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1473557. Details

Resource Sections

• Ward, C., 'Robin Anthony Bedding', in CSIROpedia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2011, https://csiropedia.csiro.au/Bedding-Robin-Anthony. Details

See also

• Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Online edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, 3 May 2000, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/index_b.html. Details
• Ward, Colin, 'CSIRO Entrepreneurship Award', in CSIROpedia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2013, https://csiropedia.csiro.au/csiro-entrepreneurship-award/. Details
• Wolff, Helen, 'Sir Ian McLennan Award', in CSIROpedia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2013. https://csiropedia.csiro.au/sir-ian-mclennan-award/. Details