PS Seminar Series (LEAPS Edition) - ANU Plant Science in 2018 - where to next?
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Biography - Owen Atkin obtained his BSc (Hons) in 1987 (ANU) and his PhD in 1993 (Toronto). From 1993-1995 he held an EU Post Doctoral Fellowship (Utrecht). From 1996-1999 he held an ARC Post Doctoral Fellowship at ANU. Thereafter, he moved to UK to take up a faculty position in the Biology Dept at the University of York (1999-2008). He then returned to ANU in 2008 and held an ARC Future Fellowship from 2009 to 2013. Since 2014, his work has been supported by funding by the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, and by a grant from the International Wheat Yield Program. He is the Environment Section Editor for New Phytologist and is the current Head of the Division of Plant Sciences in RSB. A major focus of his research is assessing the impact of environmental gradients on plant physiological processes, particularly respiration.
Location
Slatyer Seminar Room, Level 2, RN Robertson Building (46), ANU
Upcoming events in this series
The Purple Tomato is a groundbreaking example of how biotechnology can translate scientific innovation into real-world impact. This talk traces the journey from fundamental plant science and the development of anthocyanin-rich tomatoes to regulatory approval (including Australia), commercialization, and consumer adoption.
For decades, photorespiration was regarded largely as a wasteful process that lowers photosynthetic efficiency. However, growing evidence points to an additional role in plant defence.
Water availability and quality strongly affect plant productivity, with drought and salinity disrupting water uptake and cellular homeostasis. Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane proteins that facilitate the movement of water and small solutes across cellular membranes. However, the contributions that AQPs make to water-stress responses in wheat (Triticum aestivum) remain poorly understood, leaving a knowledge gap that my research seeks to address.