Prof Keith Bristow, an extraordinary professor in the Department of Plant Production and Soil Science received a Vadose Zone Journal (VZJ) Award for excellence as an Outstanding Associate Editor of this journal. The VZJ is a highly ranked ISI journal in the Soil Science discipline.

The VZJ Editorial Board awarded Prof Keith Bristow, along with three others for excellence in performing their work as associate editors. The recognition is based on their efforts in establishing a quality review process – for timeously and professional manuscript editing, for fair and rigorous integration of reviewer comments, and for overall excellence in managing a professional review process. Members of the VZJ Editorial Board expressed their deepest appreciation for these associate editors who have benefitted the journal, our community, and our sciences through their outstanding work.

Prof Bristow is a soil physicist/hydrologist with more than 30 years’ experience in scientific research. He has been involved in various projects, including the following: planning and leading strategic and tactical research activities across Australia, particularly in northern tropical Australia; building partnerships with communities, industries and government agencies; leading major national research projects; and conducting research in soil physics, groundwater hydrology, irrigation systems and integrated water management, nationally and internationally.

He currently leads the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) ‘Polymers in Agriculture’ project. This project is developing novel sprayable biodegradable polymer membranes to minimise the evaporation of water from soil and to improve agricultural water productivity.

Prof Bristow serves as a Research Scientist with the CSIRO Agriculture Flagship in Townsville, Australia. He is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America  as well as Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy. Furthermore, he was awarded the Don and Betty Kirkham Soil Physics Award by the Soil Science Society of America in 2009.