A plant pathologist working on solutions to agricultural diseases in regional Australia has been named the individual winner of the 2001 CSU Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence.

Dr Gavin Ash, a senior lecturer in the School of Agriculture on the Wagga Wagga Campus, is leading innovative Australian research into the biological control of weeds and plant diseases, concentrating on crops important to the region.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter said Dr Ash’s research was making “a direct contribution to farmers in the region and to the agricultural industry throughout Australia”.

Dr Ash has worked in agricultural research throughout western NSW and southern Queensland for the last 15 years, including the identification of diseases and weeds in crops such as pistachio, canola, grapes, rice and jojoba.

“This work has resulted in the development of relationships with companies interested in developing commercial products,” Professor Goulter said.

The River and Floodplain Ecology Research Group based on the Wagga Wagga Campus, led by Professor Alistar Robertson, was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Research Excellence Team prize.

The 13 members of the Group conduct research on the habitats of river systems, focusing on managing floodplain habitats and understanding ecosystems.

Professor Goulter said the success of this team demonstrates that exciting and innovative things can be achieved by the cross-fertilisation of ideas.

Other Faculty awards went to:

• Dr Heather Cavanagh, School of Biomedical Sciences, Wagga Wagga Campus;
• Dr Manohar Pawar, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Wagga Wagga Campus; and
• Dr Mark Morrison, School of Marketing & Management, Bathurst Campus.

The Awards recognise CSU researchers with an exceptional record of research activity and highlight their contributions to research and discovery.