Albert Tonkin Pugsley (11 March 1910 – 6 November 2002) was an Australian

agricultural scientist An agriculturist, agriculturalist, agrologist, or agronomist (abbreviated as agr.), is a professional in the science, practice, and management of agriculture and agribusiness. It is a regulated profession in Canada, India, the Philippines, the U ...

and wheat breeder.

Early life

Pugsley was born in

Mildura Mildura is a regional city in north-west Victoria, Australia. Located on the Victorian side of the Murray River, Mildura had a population of 34,565 in 2021. When nearby Wentworth, Irymple, Nichols Point and Merbein are included, the area had ...

, Victoria and educated at Scotch College, followed by the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

where he graduated in 1931 with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree. Pugsley later studied at the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...

, where he was awarded a Doctor of Science degree in 1954 for his research on disease resistance in plants.

Career

Pugsley was a

plant pathologist Plant pathology (also phytopathology) is the scientific study of diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungus, fung ...

at the Victorian Department of Agriculture (1931–1939) and

plant geneticist A plant geneticist is a scientist involved with the study of genetics in botany. Typical work is done with genes in order to isolate and then develop certain plant traits. Once a certain trait, such as plant height, fruit sweetness, or tolerance to ...

at the University of Adelaide's Waite Agricultural Institute, South Australia (1939–1953). In 1953, Pugsley was appointed founding Director of the Agricultural Research Institute in

Wagga Wagga Wagga Wagga (; informally called Wagga) is a major regional city in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, with an urban population of more than 56,000 as of June 2018, Wagga Wagga is the state's la ...

, New South Wales, serving in that role until 1975. Now part of the Wagga Wagga campus of Charles Sturt University, the road leading to the original research institute building - now the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation - was renamed 'Albert Pugsley Place' in his honour in 2005.

Legacy

Pugsley was awarded the William Farrer Medal in 1953 for his services to agriculture. He was made a Member of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

in the

1981 Australia Day Honours The 1981 Australia Day Honours were announced on 26 January 1981 by the Governor General of Australia, Sir Zelman Cowen. The Australia Day Honours are the first of the two major annual honours lists, announced on Australia Day Australia Day ...

. From 1978 to 1986 he served as an honorary Senior Associate in Plant Sciences at the University of Melbourne, and was a granted an

honorary Doctorate An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hon ...

of Agricultural Science by the university in 1981. The wheat variety "Pugsley" was named in his honour.

References

( {{DEFAULTSORT:Puglsey, Albert 1910 births 2002 deaths Australian agronomists Farrer Medal recipients Members of the Order of Australia People educated at Scotch College, Melbourne University of Melbourne alumni University of Adelaide alumni Academic staff of the University of Melbourne People from Mildura 20th-century agronomists