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Dr Peter Thorburn

Chief Research Scientist and Digital Innovation Group Lead at CSIRO

https://people.csiro.au/T/P/Peter-Thorburn

Biography

Dr Peter Thorburn an agricultural scientist with strong multidisciplinary interests in the dynamics of soil-plant interactions. He applies digital skills, together with insights into technology adoption and economics to enhance the sustainability of agriculture, increasingly through tools such as financial instruments (e.g. insurance) and environmental market-mased instruments (e.g. carbon pricing mechanisms). These “instruments” change the risk/reward dimensions of farmer decisions and management. His research has won international awards and had substantial policy impact.

In addition:

• He represents CSIRO on the APSIM Initiative, the Joint Venture that own and produces the Agricultural systems simulator (https://www.apsim.info/)

• Is a member of the Steering Council of the international Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Program (https://agmip.org/ )

• Has served on national and international science advisory committees

Current Roles

  • Digital Innovation Research Group Lead
    Leads a national research group developing widely used digital tools and services, based on cutting edge science (and technology), that result in increased farming sustainability.

  • APSIM Initiative Steering Committee
    Setting strategic direction in the Initiative to maximise the values delivered by APSIM.

  • Adjunct Professor James Cook University
    Agriculture Technology and Adoption Centre

  • International Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Program
    Member of the Steering Council

Academic Qualifications

  • 1993

    PhD
    Flinders University

Professional Experiences

  • 2018-present

    Chief Research Scientist and Research Group Leader
    CSIRO Agriculture and Food

  • 2012-2018

    Senior Principal Research Scientist and Research Group Leader
    CSIRO Agriculture and CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences

  • 2002-2012

    Principal Research Scientist and Research Group Leader
    CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences

  • 1996-2002

    Senior Research Scientist
    CSIRO Tropical Crops and Pastures and CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems

Achievements and Awards

  • 2022-2022

    Editor's Choice Certificate:
    Future Generation Computer Systems

  • 2020-2020

    Outstanding Paper Award:
    Agricultural and Environmental Letters

  • 2017-2017

    Director's Award for Collaboration, 2017 (Controlled Release Fertiliser Team)
    CSIRO Agriculture and Food

  • 2013-2013

    James E Truine Award for best agricultural paper (with Dr A Singels et al.) (28th Congress)
    International Society of Sugar Technologists

  • 2007-2007

    James E Truine Award for best agricultural paper (26th Congress)
    International Society of Sugar Technologists (78th Congress)

  • 2004-2004

    Kynoch Award for best agricultural paper (76th Congress)
    South African Sugar Technology Association

  • 2002-2002

    Kynoch Award for best agricultural paper
    South African Sugar Technology Association

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