P006838 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 2021-12-07 human Tom Spurling and Helen Cohn updated 2025-10-28 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P006838b.htm person Robson Alan David AO FTSE AACR2 1 February 1945 30 October 2024 Place of Birth Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Agricultural scientist Vice-Chancellor Agricultural consultant Alan Robson was internationally recognised for his research on mineral nutrition of plants. Much of his focus was on the areas of highly-weathered soils in the southwest of Western Australia. He developed diagnostic tests for nutrient disorders (deficiencies and toxicities) particularly in cereals, grains and pasture legumes. After an early career with the Victorian Department of Agriculture (with a 2-year break for National Service), he joined the University of Western Australia in 1974 as a Lecturer in Plant Nutrition, spending the remainder of his academic career at the University. He retired in 2012 as Vice Chancellor. Robson was actively involved in the wider university and scientific communities. He chaired Group of Eight between 2007 and 2010 while also serving on the Australian Universities Teaching Committee and as Deputy Chair of the Board, Universities Australia. For the Western Australian Government his appointments included membership of the Pastoral Lands Board, the Board of Management of the Royal Perth Hospital and the State Wheat Research Committee. Other positions included with the CSIRO Board, the Science and Industry Endowment Fund, and a range of other organisations. 1965 1965 Education - Bachelor of Agricultural Science (BAgSc), University of Melbourne 1966 1966 Award - CSIRO Research Studentship 1966 1969 Award - Federal Wheat Research Council Studentship (post-graduate) 1967 Career position - Member, Australian Society of Plant Physiologists 1968 Career position - Member, Australian Soil Science Society 1969 1969 Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Soil Science, University of Western Australia 1969 1970 Career position - Agronomist, Victorian Department of Agriculture 1970 1972 Career position - National Service, Served as Second Lieutenant, Adjutant-Quartermaster at 5 Central Ammunition Depot, South Australia. 1972 1973 Career position - Research Agronomist, Victorian Wheat Research Institute 1974 1980 Career position - Lecturer in Plant Nutrition, Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, University of Western Australia 1980 1983 Career position - Lecturer, Senior Lecturer in Plant Nutrition, Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, University of Western Australia 1983 1984 Career position - Associate Professor in Plant Nutrition, Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, University of Western Australia 1983 1989 Career position - Member, State Wheat Research Committee, Western Australia 1984 2001 Career position - Professor of Agriculture (Soil Science), University of Western Australia 1985 1990 Career position - Chairman, Grain Legumes Research Council 1987 2024 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) 1989 1989 Award - Australian Medal of Agricultural Science, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 1990 1992 Career position - Member, Agriculture Sector Advisory Committee, CSIRO 1991 1992 Career position - Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Western Australia 1992 1993 Career position - Director, CRC for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture 1992 1996 Award - Fellow, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 1993 Career position - Chair, Raine Medical Research Foundation Committee 1993 2004 Career position - Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost, University of Western Australia 1994 1998 Career position - Member of the Board of Management, Royal Perth Hospital 1995 1996 Career position - Deputy Chair, Research Grants Committee, Australian Research Council 1997 2005 Career position - Council Member, National Library of Australia 1997 2024 Award - Fellow, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology 1999 Career position - Deputy Chairman, Western Australian Institute for Medical Research 1999 2005 Career position - Deputy Chair, National Library of Australia 2000 2004 Career position - Member, Australian Universities Teaching Committee 1 Jan 2001 1 Jan 2001 Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society in plant production and processing and university administration 2001 2003 Career position - Director, Australian Universities Quality Council 2001 2012 Career position - Hackett Professor of Agriculture, University of Western Australia 2002 2004 Career position - Chair, Ministerial Taskforce on Sustainability of Pastoralism Western Australia 2002 2010 Career position - Member, Premier's Science Council Western Australia 2003 2003 Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - for service to education, particularly in the field of agricultural science, and to the development of agricultural research through a range of research committees and councils 2003 2005 Career position - Chair, Pastoral Lands Board Western Australia 2003 2008 Career position - Member, Board Remuneration Committee, CSIRO 2003 2008 Career position - Member, CSIRO Board 2004 2012 Career position - Vice Chancellor, University of Western Australia 2005 2011 Career position - Deputy Chair of the Board, Universities Australia 2007 2010 Career position - Chair, Group of Eight 2008 Career position - Fellow, Australian College of Educators 2009 2009 Award - Citizen of the Year Award, Professions Category, Government of Western Australia 2010 2011 Career position - Chair, Worldwide Universities Network 2010 2019 Career position - Chair, Advisory Council, Science and Industry Endowment Fund 2011 Career position - Chair, Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel, Western Australia 2012 Career position - Emeritus Professor, University of Western Australia 2012 Career position - Chair, Executive Advisory Board, LH Martin Institute, University of Melbourne 2012 Career position - Chair, Higher Education Council 2012 Career position - Chair, Western Australian Biosecurity Council 2012 2021 Career position - Chair of Trustees, Western Australian Museum 2013 2013 Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - for distinguished service to tertiary education through governance and administrative roles, to the advancement of scientific and medical research, and to the community 2014 2014 Award - Inducted into the Western Australian Science Hall of Fame Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Commonwealth of Australia (1949 - )

Manager, Public Affairs and Communication, Office of the Deputy Chief Executive, Minerals and Energy 1998 - 2001

 Western Australian Museum (1891 - )

Chair of Trustees 2012 - 2021

 The University of Western Australia (1911 - )

Professor of Agriculture (Soil Science) 1984 - 2001; Dean, Faculty of Agriculture 1991 - 1992; Hackett Professor of Agriculture 2001 - 2012; Vice Chancellor 2002 - 2012

 The University of Melbourne (1853 - )

Chair, Executive Advisory Board, LH Martin Institute 2012

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

Member of the Board 2003 - 2008

 CRC for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (1992 - 2000)

Director 1992 1993

 Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (1987 - )

Fellow 1987 - 2024

 Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (1997 - )

Fellow 1997 - 2024

 Australian Institute of Agricultural Science (1935 - 1996)

Fellow 1992 - 1996

 Australian Medal of Agricultural Science, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (1948 - )

Awarded the Medal 1989 by the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science

 'Robson, Alan David', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Robson, Alan David Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource: Alan Robson, Emeritus Professor Alan Robson, Emeritus Professor Perth University of Western Australia 2021 Edited Book: Who's who in Australia 2012 Who's who in Australia 2012 48th Melbourne Crown Content Pty Ltd 2012 Resource: Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia [Queen's Birthday 2013] Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia [Queen's Birthday 2013] Canberra Governor General's Office 2013