11:56am Thursday 17th June 2010
By Alex Lewis
A CHEMIST working at Harpenden's Rothamstead Research has been named as the first holder of a new fellowship awarded in memory of one his most illustrious ex-colleagues.
In a ceremony on Tuesday, Professor John Pickett was named as the first recipient of of the Michael Elliott Distinguished Research Fellowship, which will be awarded periodically to the institute's top researchers.
Michael Elliott worked for 35 years at Rothamsted, discovering and developing insecticides known as pyrethroids, which play a crucial role in protecting both people and crops from harmful bugs.
Director of Rothamsted Research Maurice Moloney said: “"John’s scientific impact in the area of chemical ecology is unrivalled.
"His work epitomises the values that we hold at Rothamsted for internationally acclaimed science and its translation into agricultural practice.
"His recent work is founded on major scientific discoveries and yet it has already been applied beneficially to agricultural systems in Africa.”
Professor Pickett said: “What a wonderful development - both to honour my predecessor Michael Elliott and his invention of synthetic pyrethroids, still the major intervention against malaria, and to enable me to continue making important contributions towards increasing sustainable intensification of agricultural production.”
The fellowship does not have any financial benefit, but is awarded in recognition of one of the institute's most distinguished scientists.
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