Person
Bornemissza, George Francis (1924 - 2010)
OAM
- Born
- 11 February 1924
Baja, Hungary - Died
- 10 April 2010
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia - Occupation
- Entomologist, Zoological collector and Zoologist
- Alternative Names
- Bornemissza, György Ferenc
Summary
George Francis Bornemissza was a zoologist who's area of expertise and interest was insects and ecosystem conservation. It was his realisation that Australia's dung beetles were unable to cope with the dung of introduced cattle that led him to advocate the introduction of beetles that could bury the dung, thereby eliminating a breeding ground for flies and parasitic worms. As part of the CSIRO's Division of Entomology from 1955 to 1983, his research led to the establishment of the Dung Beetle Program (1965-1985) under which foreign dung beetle species was introduced to Australia. In identifying 150 species with potential to be effective, including during nine years stationed in Africa, Bornemissza was careful to select candidates that would not compete with native beetles. By 2007 it was determined that of the 43 species introduced by Bornemissza and his team, 23 had established throughout Australia with remarkable success in improving soil, water and pasture health and in eliminating blowflies. Bornemissza donated his collection of beetle specimens to the Australian National Insect Collection in 1990, with a further collection of over 5,000 specimens donated to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. In retirement he continued to collect beetles, including a world-wide collection of longicorn beetles (Prioninae). Over 20 species of beetle were named in his honour.
Details
Chronology
- 1950
- Life event - Emigrated to Western Australia
- 1950
- Education - Ph.D. In Zoology
- c. 1952 - c. 1955
- Career position - Employed at the Department of Zoology, University of Western Australia
- 1955 - 1983
- Career position - Research scientist, CSIRO Division of Entomology
- 1965
- Career position - Founding Member, Australian Entomological Society
- 1965
- Career event - The Dung Beetle Program officially commenced
- 1983
- Life event - Retired
- 1990
- Life event - Donated beetle collection to Australian National Insect Collection
- 2001
- Award - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to science and entomology, particularly through the ecological study of dung beetles and the introduction of new species to Australia
- 2003
- Award - CSIRO Service from Science Award
- 2006 - 2010
- Award - Emeritus Fellow of Entomology, CSIRO
- 2008
- Award - Australian Geographic Conservationist of the Year
Related entries
Published resources
Journal Articles
- Bornemissza, G. F., 'The Australian dung beetle project 1965-1975', Australian Meat Research Committee review, 30 (1976), 1-30. Details
- Bornemissza, G. F., 'The Australian Dung Beetle Research Unit in Pretoria', South African journal of science, 75 (6) (1979), 257-60. Details
- Whitten, Max, 'Vale George Bornemissza', Myrmecia: News Bulletin of the Australian Entomological Society, 50 (3) (2014), 2-4. Details
Resources
- 'Bornemissza, George Francis (19240211-20140410)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1491597. Details
Resource Sections
- Ward, C., 'George Francis Bornemissza', in CSIROpedia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2011, https://csiropedia.csiro.au/Bornemissza-George-Francis. Details
Rebecca Rigby and Helen Cohn
Created: 23 February 2012, Last modified: 19 December 2017