Neal Menzies
Encyclopedia
Neal Menzies is an Australia
n Professor
of Soil Science
at The University of Queensland
. In his early adult years, he completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) in 1985, a Master of Agricultural Studies in 1987, and a PhD
in 1992. Professor Menzies has worked for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
(IITA) in Cameroon
, the Newcastle University (Newcastle upon Tyne) in England
, and The University of Queensland
in Australia
(where he is currently Head of the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences).
of 17 as of November 2011. Professor Menzies has served as Secretary, Vice-President and President of the Queensland
Branch of the Australian Society of Soil Science Inc. (ASSSI), and Vice-President and President of the Federal ASSSI Branch. In addition, from 2006 to 2010, Professor Menzies has been elected as Vice-President of the International Union of Soil Sciences (a union representing approximately 55,000 soil scientists internationally).
Professor Neal Menzies has helped attract more than $4,000,000 of research funding since joining The University of Queensland
in 1994. He is also a Program Leader in the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC-CARE), Associate Editor of the Journal of Environmental Quality, and Vice-Chair of the Organizing Committee (and Chair of the Scientific Committee) for the 19th World Congress of Soil Science
(WCSS) to be held in Brisbane
, Queensland
, Australia
in 2010.
His current research focuses largely on the phytotoxicity
of trace metal
s in soil solutions, giving particular consideration to aluminium
and other trace metals such as Pb
, Cu
, Zn
, and Ni
. His current postdoctoral research fellows include Dr J Bernard Wehr and Dr Peter Kopittke.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Soil Science
Soil science
Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils.Sometimes terms which...
at The University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
. In his early adult years, he completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) in 1985, a Master of Agricultural Studies in 1987, and a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1992. Professor Menzies has worked for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture is one of the world's leading research partners in finding solutions to hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. IITA's award-winning research-for-development addresses the development needs of tropical countries...
(IITA) in Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, the Newcastle University (Newcastle upon Tyne) in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and The University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(where he is currently Head of the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences).
Academic career
As of November 2011, Neal Menzies has published 115 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals. He has a h-indexH-index
The h-index is an index that attempts to measure both the productivity and impact of the published work of a scientist or scholar. The index is based on the set of the scientist's most cited papers and the number of citations that they have received in other publications...
of 17 as of November 2011. Professor Menzies has served as Secretary, Vice-President and President of the Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
Branch of the Australian Society of Soil Science Inc. (ASSSI), and Vice-President and President of the Federal ASSSI Branch. In addition, from 2006 to 2010, Professor Menzies has been elected as Vice-President of the International Union of Soil Sciences (a union representing approximately 55,000 soil scientists internationally).
Professor Neal Menzies has helped attract more than $4,000,000 of research funding since joining The University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
in 1994. He is also a Program Leader in the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC-CARE), Associate Editor of the Journal of Environmental Quality, and Vice-Chair of the Organizing Committee (and Chair of the Scientific Committee) for the 19th World Congress of Soil Science
World Congress of Soil Science
The World Congress of Soil Science is a conference held every four years under the guidance of the International Union of Soil Sciences . The purpose of a congress is to: ensure the advancement of soil science and its application, and to handle the business of the society...
(WCSS) to be held in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 2010.
His current research focuses largely on the phytotoxicity
Phytotoxicity
Phytotoxicity is a term used to describe the degree of toxic effect by a compound on plant growth. Such damage may be caused by a wide variety of compounds, including trace metals, pesticides, salinity, phytotoxins or allelopathy.-Urea and urine:...
of trace metal
Trace metal
Trace metals are metals in extremely small quantities that reside in or are present in animal and plant cells and tissue. They are a necessary part of good nutrition, although they can be toxic if ingested in excess quantities....
s in soil solutions, giving particular consideration to aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
and other trace metals such as Pb
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
, Cu
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, Zn
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
, and Ni
Nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
. His current postdoctoral research fellows include Dr J Bernard Wehr and Dr Peter Kopittke.
Selected bibliography
- Beal C D, Rassam D W, Gardner E A, Kirchhof G and Menzies N W 2008 Influence of hydraulic loading and effluent flux on surface surcharging in soil absorption systems. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering 13, 681-692.
- Kopittke P M, Asher C J, Blamey F P C, Auchterlonie G J, Guo Y N and Menzies N W 2008 Localization and chemical speciation of Pb in roots of signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana). Environmental Science and Technology 42, 4595-4599.
- Kopittke P M, Dart P J and Menzies N W 2007 Toxic effects of low concentrations of Cu on nodulation of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Environmental Pollution 145, 309-315.
- Menzies N W, Donn M J and Kopittke P M 2007 Evaluation of extractants for estimation of the phytoavailable trace metals in soils. Environmental Pollution 145, 121-130.
- Kopittke P M, Menzies N W and Blamey F P C 2004 Rhizotoxicity of aluminate and polycationic aluminium at high pH. Plant and Soil 266, 177-186.
- Menzies N W, Bell L C and Edwards D G 1994 Exchange and solution phase chemistry of acid, highly weathered soils. I. Characteristics of soils and the effects of lime and gypsum amendments. Australian Journal of Soil Research 32: 251-267.
- Menzies N W, Bell L C and Edwards D G 1994 Exchange and solution phase chemistry of acid, highly weathered soils. II. Investigation of mechanisms controlling Al release into solution. Australian Journal of Soil Research 32, 269-283.
- Menzies N W, Bell L C and Edwards D G 1991 Characteristics of membrane filters in relation to aluminium studies in soil solutions and natural waters. Journal of Soil Science 42 585-597.
Awards
- Award for Excellence in Research, School of Land and Food Sciences, The University of QueenslandUniversity of QueenslandThe University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
, 2006 - Award for Outstanding Achievement in Collaborative R&D, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Business and Higher Education Roundtable, 2002 - Publication Medal, Australian Society of Soil Science IncorporatedAustralian Society of Soil Science IncorporatedThe Australian Society of Soil Science Incorporated was founded 1955 to "advance soil science in the professional, academic, and technical fields". The Society consists of a federation of branches operating the 'umbrella' of the ASSSI Federal Council. Current branches are: New South Wales,...
, 1989 - Edwin Munro Scholarship in Agricultural Science, The University of QueenslandUniversity of QueenslandThe University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
, 1986 - Bell Medal, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science, 1985
See also
- International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS)
- Australian Society of Soil Science IncorporatedAustralian Society of Soil Science IncorporatedThe Australian Society of Soil Science Incorporated was founded 1955 to "advance soil science in the professional, academic, and technical fields". The Society consists of a federation of branches operating the 'umbrella' of the ASSSI Federal Council. Current branches are: New South Wales,...
(ASSSI) - World Congress of Soil ScienceWorld Congress of Soil ScienceThe World Congress of Soil Science is a conference held every four years under the guidance of the International Union of Soil Sciences . The purpose of a congress is to: ensure the advancement of soil science and its application, and to handle the business of the society...
(WCSS) - List of Universities with Soil Science Curriculum