12 Dec 2018
Two NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) leading researchers have earned the distinct honour of being named a 2018 Highly Cited Researcher.
NSW DPI Deputy Director General, Research Excellence John Tracey said both Lukas Van Zwieten and Annette Cowie have been recognised amongst other exceptional scientists from around the world on the Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers list.
"DPI is very proud of our researchers in the work they do every day for the people of NSW, and to have Lukas and Annette recognised globally is a wonderful achievement for them and their work," he said.
"The list identifies the world’s most influential scientists and social scientists who have demonstrated significant influence through publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade.
"Both Annette and Lukas have been named in the new cross-field category for those with substantial influence across multiple fields, a further significant achievement."
Lukas’s research focuses on soil processes including C and N cycling, and how these relate to greenhouse gas emissions; contaminants in the soil environment; and unraveling microbial, rhizosphere and soil chemical processes.
His research on biochar was acclaimed in the 2007 United Nations’ World Environment Day Award "Meeting the Greenhouse Challenge," and it has been popularised through the Australian Broadcasting Corporations Catalyst program (2007), a CNN "special report" in 2008, ABC’s Landline (2009) and Discovery Channels "Ecopolis" miniseries in 2009/10.
Lukas holds the position of Adjunct Professor in Southern Cross Plant Science and is a member of Soil Science Australia, and has published over 100 papers and book chapters and has over 8000 citations.
Annette has a background in soil science and plant nutrition, with particular interest in sustainable resource management. Her recent research focuses on quantifying and managing climate effects of agriculture and forestry, including through bioenergy, biochar and soil carbon management.
Annette is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Environmental and Rural Science at the University of New England, and she leads the International Energy Agency Bioenergy research network "Climate Change Effects of Biomass and Bioenergy Systems".
She is also member of the Science Policy Interface of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and an author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Climate Change and Land, due for release in November 2019.
Annette’s research has been applied in development of climate change policy for the land sector, including greenhouse gas accounting for inventory and emissions trading, and in international initiatives to address land degradation.
Staff profiles
- Annette Cowie
- Lukas Van Zwieten
