Prof Wingfield is the Director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), which he established in 1998. FABI accommodates approximately 150 MSc, PhD and postdoctoral students, and has grown to achieve a substantial global footprint over a 15-year period.

Prof Wingfield’s research focuses on insect pests and diseases that threaten forests and forestry globally. Using a broad range of approaches (but especially molecular genetic techniques), pests and pathogens arising in many different countries of the world are identified – often for the first time. Important discoveries of cryptic speciation and hybridisation have emerged for many tree pests and pathogens. Understanding the biological processes of these organisms enhances the capacity of the research team to reduce the often devastating impact that these pests and pathogens have on trees.

He received a DSc honoris causa degree from the University of British Colombia, Canada in 2012 and received a similar honour from North Carolina State University, USA, in 2013. In 2008 and again in 2012 he received an A1-rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF).

We invite you to participate in UP's one hour EXPERT LECTURE SERIES and be enriched by the University's research output.

Date: 23 October 2013
Lecture will start at: 17:00
Cocktail after the lecture: 18:15-19:30
Venue: Senate Hall, Hatfield Campus, University of Pretoria
GPS coordinates: S25° 45' 21" E28º 13' 51"
Dress: Day wear
RSVP: Click on the link: web.up.ac.za/uprsvp4 by 16 October
Enquiries: Lynette Smith, 012 420 2278

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