Professor Robert Fitzpatrick FTSE

Professor Robert Fitzpatrick FTSE

Professor Rob Fitzpatrick is pioneering the use of acid sulfate soils to find practical solutions for global issues.

In a career spanning more than 50 years, Professor Fitzpatrick was the first to provide national and international leadership in recognising and establishing the importance, extent and severity of inland acid sulfate soils in Australia and worldwide.

Acid sulfate soils are the nastiest soils in the world because when disturbed, they create significant environmental damage, water contamination and decades of ongoing soil issues.

Acid sulfate soils have traditionally been recognised mainly in coastal environments, but in 2008 Professor Fitzpatrick published the first ever book on inland acid sulfate soils.

He was appointed as a Research Scientist/Pedologist at CSIRO’s Division of Soils in 1983, where he worked for 40 years undertaking many practical field and laboratory investigations across Australia, including Norfolk Island and overseas (Africa, New Zealand, Kuwait, Iraq Marshlands, China, USA, UK, Italy and Canada).

As the inaugural Director of the University of Adelaide’s Acid Sulfate Soils Centre (ASSC), Fitzpatrick and his team deliver solutions to issues faced by industry and the acid sulfate soils community. His team are working to pioneer acid sulfate soil research to improve environmental science, mineral exploration, forensic science and outcomes for society.

Expertise
Acid sulfate soils, forensic soil science

ATSE Division
South Australia

Role and organisation (at time of election)
Director, Acid Sulfate Soils Centre (ASSC)