Greenwich, United Kingdom
April 26, 2012
A lifetime’s experience of tackling the problems in developing countries caused by insects and plant disease will be the subject of a University of Greenwich lecture.
John Colvin’s inaugural lecture as Professor of Entomology and Plant-Virus Epidemiology, at the university’s Natural Resources Institute, will explain the impact of his extensive research and highlight some of the practical solutions he has found.
Professor Colvin, pictured, has specialised in researching how viruses carried by insects can have hugely damaging effects on economically important crops, including vegetables, cotton, tomato and cassava, a root crop grown in tropical areas. He has published more than 130 scientific and press articles.
He has more than 20 years’ experience of managing multi-disciplinary teams and public-private partnerships in Africa, Asia and Europe.
More recently, closer to home, he has been investigating the problems caused by unwanted bugs in leafy summer salads with a company based in Deal, Kent.
Professor Colvin says: “I have always found insects, plants and viruses fascinating and have been fortunate enough to spend much of my career working on these amazing organisms. Because of the enormity of human suffering caused by some of these problems, especially in the developing world, I have been particularly interested in agricultural research that generates practical technologies, or knowledge-based solutions, that can be adopted easily.”
Practical examples of his work include virus-resistant varieties of tomato now being grown in India and Bangladesh.
Professor Colvin will give his talk in the Pilkington Lecture Theatre at the University of Greenwich’s Medway Campus, Chatham Maritime, on Thursday 31 May at 6pm. He will be available afterwards to discuss his work. It is free to attend and all are welcome.
To book a place, please contact Heather McAvoy-Marshall at the university’s Natural Resources Institute on 01634 883911 or email h.m.mcavoy-marshall@gre.ac.uk
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