Ian Brooker
Encyclopedia
Murray Ian Hill Brooker AM
(born 2 June 1934), better known as Ian Brooker, is an Australia
n botanist. He is widely recognised as the leading authority on the genus
Eucalyptus
.
Ian Brooker was born in Adelaide, South Australia
on 2 June 1934. He obtained a B.Ag.Sc. from the University of Adelaide
, and a M.Sc. and D.Sc. from the Australian National University
in Canberra
. He worked with the Soil Conservation Branch of the Department of Agriculture in South Australia from 1957 to 1963; then joined the Department of Botany at the Australian National University until 1969; and then spent a year with the Western Australian Herbarium
.
In 1970, Brooker joined the Forest Research Institute in Canberra, now CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products. His research since then has specialised in the Eucalyptus
genus, especially its taxonomy
. He has travelled widely throughout Australia collecting specimens, and has published 100 research papers, 180 leaflets, and four books, and is the principal author of "Forest Trees of Australia".
In his role as a eucalypt specialist, he has travelled widely in the world, including the USA, Brazil, most European countries, southern and eastern Africa, Morocco, Israel, India, China, and New Zealand. In 1980/1981 he was appointed Australian Botanical Liaison Officer
at Kew in the UK.
In 2006, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia
.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 2 June 1934), better known as Ian Brooker, is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n botanist. He is widely recognised as the leading authority on the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
.
Ian Brooker was born in Adelaide, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
on 2 June 1934. He obtained a B.Ag.Sc. from the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, and a M.Sc. and D.Sc. from the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. He worked with the Soil Conservation Branch of the Department of Agriculture in South Australia from 1957 to 1963; then joined the Department of Botany at the Australian National University until 1969; and then spent a year with the Western Australian Herbarium
Western Australian Herbarium
The Western Australian Herbarium is the State Herbarium in Perth, Western Australia, Western Australia. It is part of the State government's Department of Environment and Conservation, and has responsibility for the description and documentation of the flora of Western Australia.The Herbarium is...
.
In 1970, Brooker joined the Forest Research Institute in Canberra, now CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products. His research since then has specialised in the Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
genus, especially its taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
. He has travelled widely throughout Australia collecting specimens, and has published 100 research papers, 180 leaflets, and four books, and is the principal author of "Forest Trees of Australia".
In his role as a eucalypt specialist, he has travelled widely in the world, including the USA, Brazil, most European countries, southern and eastern Africa, Morocco, Israel, India, China, and New Zealand. In 1980/1981 he was appointed Australian Botanical Liaison Officer
Australian Botanical Liaison Officer
Australian Botanical Liaison Officer is a secondment position, held for up to twelve months by an Australian botanist at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London, England in the United Kingdom. The position was created in 1937, and the first ABLO was Charles Gardner...
at Kew in the UK.
In 2006, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
.