Mike Wingfield

Michael John Wingfield (born 21 April 1954) is a South African academic and scientist who studies plant pathology and biological control. He was the founding director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria. Wingfield has authored or co-authored over 1,000 scientific publications and is considered a leading expert in the field of forest health and invasive species. He has received numerous awards and honours throughout his career, including Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award and John Herschel Medal, the highest accolade from the Royal Society of South Africa. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa and the African Academy of Sciences. Wingfield has had several fungi named after him. Quotes "UP's Prof Michael Wingfield wins Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award" (2022) "UP's Prof Michael Wingfield wins Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award", Bizcommunity (July 13, 2022) We need to know a lot more about the world around us in terms of microbes – where they are in the natural environment and what threats they pose to us. This is mostly because we have a powerful plant pathology community and that most plant diseases are caused by fungi. This award has come to me in the latter part of my career. Maybe that is mostly the case for awards of this type that have huge prestige and likely would not go to early-career scientists. I see my role as one primarily of mentorship. To pass on my knowledge and experience to younger scientists – to share my passion for the fungi and for research with others that might build on what I have been privileged to do – not only via this award – but linked to my career as a scientist. I hope to at least explore those opportunities and to get this process started. This, we need to know more about – where are they? What are the long-term threats? Knowing such things prepares us for a more secure future. External links Category:Scientists from South Africa Category:Academics from South Africa Category:1954 births Category:Living people