P000699 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn updated 2026-03-10 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000699b.htm person Peacock William James AC FAA FRS FTSE AACR2 Peacock, Jim 14 December 1937 21 October 2025 Place of Birth Leura, New South Wales, Australia Place of Death Australia Molecular biologist Geneticist Chief Scientist Jim Peacock was Australia's Chief Scientist from 2006 to 2008, and Chief of the CSIRO Division of Plant Industry from 1978 to 2003. He made significant contributions to science policy and administration, science education, original research and promoting the application of basic research to industry, particularly agriculture. His research interests included molecular plant science, genomics and gene technology. Under his leadership the Division became a world leader in molecular plant biology. Achievements include the first isolation of a plant transposable element, the isolation of stress protection genes and the demonstration of genetic and epigenetic controls of flowering. Peacock was instrumental in the foundation of several agricultural companies and joint ventures including the Gene Shears Company. He was involved in science policy advisory committees nationally and internationally. Between 2002 and 2006 he was President of the Australian Academy of Science. His awards include the Prime Minister's Prize for Science.

Peacock was awarded the following CSIRO medals:

1989 - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement for outstanding research leadership of the Division:

2005 - CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement for his tremendous impact on CSIROand science in Australia over the last forty years through his originalresearch, science policy and administration, science education andinteractions with industry.

1958 1958 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc(Hons)), University of Sydney 1961 1962 Award - Linnean Macleay Fellowship (Botany), for study at the University of Sydney 1962 1962 Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Sydney 1963 1963 Career position - Post-doctoral Fellow, CSIRO 1963 1965 Career position - Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Biology, University of Oregon, U.S.A. 1964 1965 Career position - Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Oregon, U.S.A. 1965 1965 Career position - Research Consultant, Biology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee, U.S.A. 1967 1967 Award - Edgeworth David Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales 1969 1970 Career position - Adjunct Professor of Biology, University of California, San Diego, U.S.A. 1969 1973 Career position - Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Plant Industry 1970 1971 Career position - Visiting Professor of Biochemistry, Stanford University, California, U.S.A. 1973 1977 Career position - Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Plant Industry 1976 2025 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1977 1977 Career position - Visiting Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, U.S.A. 1977 1978 Career position - Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Plant Industry 1978 1978 Award - Lemberg Medal and Oration, Australian Biochemical Society 1978 2003 Career position - Chief, CSIRO Division of Plant Industry 1979 1980 Career position - Chairman, Sectional Committee VII, Australian Academy of Science 1979 1984 Career position - Member, Editorial Advisory Committee, Australian Journals of Biological Sciences 1982 1982 Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS) 1984 1984 Award - 10th Anniversary Award, International Board of Plant Genetic Resources 1984 1984 Career position - Member, Science and Industry Forum, Australian Academy of Science 1984 1988 Career position - Member, Sectional Committee V, Australian Academy of Science 1985 1985 Award - University of Georgia Bicentennial Medal 1985 1988 Career position - Member, Board of Directors, International Society for Plant Molecular Biology 1986 1989 Career position - Chairman, Executive and Program Committees, International Board for Plant Genetic Resources 1987 1987 Award - N.I. Vavilov Medal, Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry, St Petersburg, Russia 1987 1989 Career position - Chairman, Board of Trustees, International Board of Genetic Resources 1988 1988 Award - BHP Bicentennial Prize for Pursuit of Excellence in Science and Technology 1988 2025 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) 1989 1989 Award - Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lectureship, Australian Academy of Science 1989 1989 Award - CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement 1989 1996 Career position - Fellow, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 1989 1998 Career position - Director, Gene Shears Pty Ltd 1990 Career position - Foreign Fellow, Indian National Science Academy 1990 Career position - Foreign Associate, US National Academy of Sciences 1990 1990 Career position - Adjunct Professor/Co-Director, Plant science Centre, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University 1991 1998 Career position - Co-Director, Plant Science Cooperative Research Centre, Australian National University 1991 1998 Career position - Chairman, Gene Shears Board Scientific Subcommittee 1992 1995 Career position - Academic Advisor, Laboratory of Plant Cell & Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 1993 2003 Career position - Board Member, CRC for Sustainable Cotton Production (later Australian Cotton CRC) 26 Jan 1994 26 Jan 1994 Award - Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) - for service to science, particularly in the field of molecular biology and to science education 1995 1995 Career position - Member, Advisory Committee, 10th International Biotechnology Symposium, Sydney 1995 1998 Career position - Member of Council, Australian Academy of Science 1995 1998 Career position - Chairman, Impact Assessment and Evaluation Group, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Science 1996 1996 Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa, Charles Sturt University 1997 1997 Award - Fellow, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology 1998 Career position - Member, International Committee, Australian Academy of Science 1998 2001 Career position - Council Member, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering 1998 2002 Career position - Member, Advisory Committee on Genetic Experimentation and Biotechnology, International Council for Science 1999 1999 Award - Farrer Memorial Medal, Farrer Memorial Trust 2000 2000 Award - Prime Minister's Prize for Science (jointly with Elizabeth Dennis), Commonwealth of Australia 1 Jan 2001 1 Jan 2001 Award - Centenary Medal - for pioneering research on plant development especially the discovery of the Flowering Switch Gene 2002 2002 Award - Doctor of Agricultural Science (DAgSc), honoris causa, University of Sydney 2002 2006 Career position - Director, Australian Foundation for Science (Australian Academy of Science) 2002 2006 Career position - President, Australian Academy of Science 2003 2003 Career position - Board Member, CRC for Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology 2004 Career position - CSIRO Fellow and Chair of the Office of the Chief Executive Science Team 2004 2004 Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa, University of Ghent, Belgium 2004 2006 Career position - Member, Eminent Scientists Group, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Import Risk Analyses) 2005 Career position - Chairman, National Research Priorities Standing Committee 2005 2005 Award - CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation 2006 2008 Career position - Chief Scientist, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet 2006 2008 Career position - Executive Officer, Prime minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) 2007 2008 Career position - Member, Advisory Board, Higher Education Endowment Fund, Australian Government Lemberg Medal and Oration, Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (1968 - )

Awarded the Medal by the Australian Biochemical Society 1978

 CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (2002 - )

Awarded the Medal 2005

 CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement (1985 - )

Awarded the Medal 1989

 Prime Minister's Prize for Science, Commonwealth of Australia (2000 - )

Awarded the Prize (jointly) 2000

 Linnean Macleay Fellowship (1905 - )

Awarded the Fellowship (Botany) 1961 - 1962

 Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science (1971 - )

Awarded the Medal 1989

 Chief Scientist of Australia (1989 - )

Chief Scientist 2006 - 2008

 Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (1997 - )

Fellow 1997 - 2025

 CSIR/O Division of Plant Industry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1929 - c. 2014)

Chief 1978 - 2003; CSIRO Medal for Leadership of the Division of Plant Industry 1989

 Edgeworth David Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales (1948 - )

Awarded the Medal 1967

 Farrer Memorial Medal (1936 - )

Awarded the Medal 1999

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 1976 - 2025; President 2002 - 2006

 Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (1987 - )

Fellow 1988 - 2025

 CRC for Sustainable Cotton Production (1993 - 1999)

Board Member 1993 - 1999

 Australian Cotton CRC (1999 - 2005)

Board Member 1999 - 2003

 CRC for Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology (2003 - 2010)

Board Member 2003

 Australian Institute of Agricultural Science (1935 - 1996)

Fellow 1989 - 1996

 Peacock, W J (1937-)

Trove

 'Peacock, William James (Jim)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Peacock, William James (Jim) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource: Fellows of the Academy Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Fellows of the Academy 2024 Resource Section: William James (Jim) Peacock Ward, C. William James (Jim) Peacock Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 2011 CSIROpedia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Resource Section: Frankel, Sir Otto Herzberg (1900 - 1998), plant scientist Peacock, W. J. and Dennis, Elizabeth S. Frankel, Sir Otto Herzberg (1900 - 1998), plant scientist Canberra National Centre of Biography, Australian National University 2023 Australian dictionary of biography Journal Article: Spencer Smith-White 1909-1998 Peacock, Jim, Barlow, Bryan and Carolin, Roger Spencer Smith-White 1909-1998 2011 Historical Records of Australian Science 22 2 277-90 Book: Achievements and challenges for Australian science: Distinguished Lecture Series 1993 Ian Clunies Ross Memorial Foundation Achievements and challenges for Australian science: Distinguished Lecture Series 1993 Parkville (Vic.) Ian Clunies Ross Memorial Foundation 1993 Journal Article: Michael James Denham White 1910-1983 Peacock, W. J.; and McCann, D. Michael James Denham White 1910-1983 1994 Historical Records of Australian Science 10 2 143-161 Journal Article: Michael James Denham White, 20 August 1910 - 16 December 1983, elected FRS 1961 Peacock, William James and McCann, D. Michael James Denham White, 20 August 1910 - 16 December 1983, elected FRS 1961 1994 Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 40 403-19 Book: Achievements and challenges for Australian science Nossal, Gus [and others] Achievements and challenges for Australian science Parkville, Vic. Ian Clunies Ross Memorial Foundation 1993 Resource: Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture Australian Academy of Science 2022 Resource: Recipients [of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science, 2000 - 2017] Recipients [of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science, 2000 - 2017] Department of Industry, Innovation and Science 2017 Journal Article: Dr William James (Jim) Peacock AC FAA FTSE FRS (14/12/1937 - 21/10/2025) Anon Dr William James (Jim) Peacock AC FAA FTSE FRS (14/12/1937 - 21/10/2025) 2025 Newsletter, Australian Academy of Science 197 2 Resource Section: Interview with Dr Jim Peacock, plant scientist Dennis, Liz Interview with Dr Jim Peacock, plant scientist Australian Academy of Science 2008 Interviews with Australian scientists Resource Section: Academy farewells champion ofAustralian science [Jim Peacock] Anon Academy farewells champion ofAustralian science [Jim Peacock] Australian Academy of Science 2025 Newsletter, Australian Academy of Science 2 Journal Article: Australian Genetics: a Brief History McCann, D. A.; and Batterham, P. Australian Genetics: a Brief History 1993 Genetica 90 2-3 81-114 Resource Section: CSIRO Entrepreneurship Award Ward, Colin CSIRO Entrepreneurship Award Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 2013 CSIROpedia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Resource: Farrer Memorial Trust Medal recipients and orations New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Farrer Memorial Trust Medal recipients and orations Sydney New South Wales Department of Primary Industries 2023 Resource Section: CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement Ward, Colin CSIRO Medal for Lifetime Achievement Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 2022 CSIROpedia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)