Neal Menzies

Neal W. Menzies
Born	7 December 1959 Brisbane, Australia
Residence	Australia
Fields	soil science
Institutions	University of Queensland
Alma mater	University of Queensland

Neal Menzies (born 7 December 1959) is an Australian professor^[1] of soil science at the University of Queensland.^[2] 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. 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).^[3]

Academic career

As of May 2016, Neal Menzies had published more than 150 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals.^[4] He has an h-index of 25^[4] as of May 2016. In 2011 Menzies was appointed Dean of Agriculture, and Head of the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences in the University of Queensland.^[5] In 2016 he was elected President of the Australian Council of Deans of Agriculture^[6] for a two year term.^[7] 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.^[8] In addition, from 2006 to 2010, Menzies was elected as vice-president of the International Union of Soil Sciences (a union representing approximately 55,000 soil scientists internationally).^[9][10]

Menzies has helped attract more than $20,000,000 of research funding since joining the University of Queensland in 1994.^[11] He was also a program leader in the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC-CARE),^[12] Associate Editor of the Journal of Environmental Quality,^[13] and vice-chair of the organizing committee (and chair of the scientific committee) for the 19th World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in 2010.^[14][15]

His current research focuses largely on the phytotoxicity of trace metals in soil solutions, giving particular consideration to aluminium and other trace metals such as lead, copper, zinc, and nickel. Professor Menzies was one of the first Soil Scientists to examine the impact of biochar on soil solution composition and soil chemical fertility.^[16] Since this time, his research has focused on the development of novel biochar technologies, with a focus on improving plant growth and food production in Africa. His key research colleagues in the University of Queensland Soil Science group include Dr J Bernard Wehr,^[17] Dr Peng Wang^[18] and Dr Peter Kopittke.^[19]

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.^[20]
• 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.^[21]
• 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.^[22]
• 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.^[23]
• 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.^[24]
• 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.^[25]
• 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.^[26]

Awards

• Award for Excellence in Research, School of Land and Food Sciences, the University of Queensland, 2006
• Award for Outstanding Achievement in Collaborative R&D, Australian Business and Higher Education Roundtable, 2002
• Publication Medal, Australian Society of Soil Science Incorporated, 1989
• Edwin Munro Scholarship in Agricultural Science, the University of Queensland, 1986
• Bell Medal, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science, 1985

See also

• International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS)
• Australian Society of Soil Science Incorporated (ASSSI)
• World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS)
• List of Universities with Soil Science Curriculum

Notes

External links

• IUSS Official Website
• ASSSI Official Website
• UQ Website for Neal Menzies
• Journal of Environmental Quality