P000714 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 2026-03-12 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000714b.htm person Pitman Michael George FAA AACR2 7 February 1933 30 March 2000 Place of Birth England Place of Death Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Biologist Chief Scientist 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. 1958 1962 Career position - Demonstrator, Department of Botany, University of Cambridge 1959 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 1978 Award - Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) 1978 1984 Career position - Member of Council, Australian Institute of Marine Science 1979 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 - President, Australian Society of Plant Physiologists 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, 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 1992 1996 Career position - Chairman, Co-ordination Committee on Science and Technology 1997 1999 Career position - Foreign Secretary, Australian Academy of Science 1997 2000 Award - Fellow, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) (1972 - )

Member of Council 1978 - 1984

 Australian Science and Technology Council (1977 - 1997)

Member 1982 - 1983

 Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (1997 - )

Fellow 1997 - 2000

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 1981 - 2000

 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Commonwealth of Australia (1949 - )

Associate member of Executive, CSIRO 1985 - 1987; Deputy to Chief Executive, CSIRO 1987 - 1988

 Institute of Biological Resources - CSIRO, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1978 - 1986)

Director 1983 - 1985

 Chief Scientist of Australia (1989 - )

Chief Scientist 1992 - 1996

 The University of Sydney (1850 - )

Professor of Biology (Plant Physiology) 1966 - 1983

 Australian Society of Plant Physiologists (1958 - c. 2000)

President 1985 - 1987

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Pitman, M G (1933-2000)

Trove

 'Pitman, Michael George', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Pitman, Michael George Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource Section: Pitman, Michael George (1933 - 2000), botanist and chief scientist Spurling, T. H. Pitman, Michael George (1933 - 2000), botanist and chief scientist Canberra National Centre of Biography, Australian National University 2024 Australian dictionary of biography Journal Article: Michael George Pitman 1933-2000 Boardman, Keith; Osmond, C; Ulrich, Barry and Luttge Michael George Pitman 1933-2000 2002 Historical Records of Australian Science 14 2 193-208 Resource Section: Michael George Pitman Ward, C. Michael George Pitman Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 2011 CSIROpedia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)