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Dr Ben Macdonald

Group Leader

https://people.csiro.au/M/B/Ben-Macdonald

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Contact details:

GPO BOX 1700
CANBERRA ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA

Biography

Dr Ben Macdonald is developing improved agricultural production systems through the measurement of nutrient and water fluxes within agricultural and natural ecosystems. His research also focuses on the quantification of gaseous exchange between the land surface and the atmosphere and the key processes responsible for emissions from agricultural and natural ecosystems.

Currently Dr Macdonald is leading research projects in Australian cotton production systems with a focus on nitrogen use efficiency and nutrient cycling within root cropping systems of the Pacific Island Countries and Territories.

Professional Areas

Fields of Research

Current

Current Roles

  • Group Leader
    Soil and Landscapes, Agriculture & Food

  • Project Leader
    ACIAR Project “Soil management for farm resilience in Pacific Islands”

Academic Qualifications

  • 1999

    PhD
    University of New South Wales

Professional Experiences

  • 2003-2010

    Research Scientist
    The Fenner School, Australian National University

Achievements and Awards

  • 2013

    HSE Award
    CSIRO

  • 2011-2013

    Julius Career Award
    CSIRO

  • 2011

    Australia China Young Scientist Exchange Program
    Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering

  • 2011

    Australian National University Top PhD Supervisor Award
    Australian National University

  • 2008

    Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries for the project “Drivers of soil nitrogen gas emissions from sugarcane agriculture”
    Australian Government Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)

Other highlights

  • 2017

    Invited speaker on CRDC/CottonInfo Irrigation and Nitrogen Workshop where key nitrogen researchers presented research findings to growers at key regional cotton growing centres. During this nitrogen workshop tour I presented to approximately a quarter of the Australia cotton growers

  • 2016

    Invited speaker on CRDC/CottonInfo Nitrogen Workshop. where key nitrogen researchers presented research findings to growers at key regional cotton growing centres. During this nitrogen workshop tour I presented to approximately a quarter of the Australia cotton growers

  • 2012-2017

    Team Leader Soil and Environmental Chemistry, Soil Process and Function Group, CSIRO Agriculture

  • 2012-2013

    NSW Soil Science Society Branch President

Publications

We have publications by Dr Ben Macdonald