Crisp, Michael Douglas (Mike) (1950 - )

Summary

Mike Crisp is a systematic botanist widely recognised for his expertise in Australian legumes and as being highly influential in the use of cladistic analytical methods in relation to the Australian flora. With his appointment to the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Crisp's focus shifted from the ecology of Australia's arid zone plants to the systematics of legumes, particularly the tribes Bossiaeeae and Mirbelieae, and later the family Proteaceae. He was one of the first botanists to apply cladistics to the study of the evolutionary history and biogeography of Australian plants and became a persuasive advocate for the use of this methodology. In 1990 Crisp joined the Division of Botany and Zoology at the Australian National University, serving as Head of School for four years, and ultimately being appointed to a personal chair. He has been active in the Australian (later Australasian)Systematic Botany Society as a member of council and Editor of the Society's newsletter, and as President from 1992 to 1995.

Details

Chronology

1971

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc(Hons)), University of Adelaide

1975 - 1989

Career position - Research scientist and Curator of the herbarium, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra

1976

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Adelaide

1981 - 1982

Career position - Australian Botanical Liaison Officer, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

1986 - 1990

Career position - Member of Council, Australian Systematic Botany Society

1988 - 1992

Career position - Editor (with Barbara Barnsley), Australian Systematic Botany Society newsletter

1990 - 1992

Career position - Vice-President, Australian Systematic Botany Society

1990 - 2004

Career position - Lecturer in plant systematics (later Reader), Division of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University

1992 - 1995

Career position - President, Australian Systematic Botany Society

2000 - 2003

Career position - Head of School, Division of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University

2004- -

Career position - Professor (personal chair), Division of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University

2011

Award - Nancy T. Burbidge Medal, Australian Systematic Botany Society

Related entries

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Crisp, Mike, 'The Nancy Burbidge Medal: Peter Weston: a tribute to his outstanding contribution to plant systematics', Australasian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter, 161 (2014), 29-31. Details
• Crisp, Mike, 'Joan Margaret Taylor, 1929 - 2017', Australasian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter, 173 (2017), 31-3. Details
• Crisp, Mike; and Wilkins, Carol, 'Dr Jenny A. Chappill, 1959 - 2006', Australian systematic botany, 20 (6) (2006), i-ii. Details
• Weston, Peter, 'Award of Nancy T. Burbidge Medals to Professors Pauline Ladiges and Michael Crisp', Australasian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter, 147/8 (2011), 4-5. Details