National Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Prof. Robert S. Zeigler
FOREIGN FELLOW, ELECTED 2015

Born in Pennsylvania, USA on 3 January 1951. Educated at University of Illinois, B.Sc. 1972; Oregon State University, M.Sc. 1978; Cornell University, Ph.D. 1982.

Technical Adviser, Burundi Maize Program, Institut des Sciences Agronomique du Burundi, 1982-85; Senior Staff, Plant Pathologist, 1985-92; and Leader, Rice Program, 1986-92, International Centre for Tropical Agriculture; Leader, Rainfed Lowland Rice Research Program, 1992-96 and Irrigated Rice Research Program, 1992-96, International Rice Research Institute; Professor and Head, Department of Plant Pathology and Director, Plant Biotechnology Center, Kansas State University, 1999-2004; Director, Generation Challenge Program, CGIAR, 2004-05. Chairman, Board of Directors, Association of International Agricultural Research Centers, 2008-2015; Director General and Chief Executive Officer, International Rice Research Institute, Laguna, Philippines, 2005-2016.

Awards/Honours: Leadership in Science Public Service Award from the American Society of Plant Biologists (2013); International Plant Protection Award of Distinction from the International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences (2011); The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Partnership Award for Innovative Program Models from the United States Department of Agriculture (2010); Medal for the Cause of Science and Technology from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam (2010); The E.C. Stackman Award from the University of Minnesota (2009); Outstanding Alumnus of Oregon State University's College of Agriculture (2008); Time Magazine Global Innovator Award (2007); Medal of recognition "For the Cause of Agricultural Development in Vietnam," from the Government of Vietnam (2007); Who's Who in Agricultural Higher Education (2003); International Service Award (2001), the American Phytopathological Society; Gamma Sigma Delta (Honor Society of Agriculture-elected 2000); Outstanding Research Publication Award from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (1994 & 1996); Sigma Chi (1982). Doctor of Science (honoris causa) from TNAU, Coimbatore (2014), GBPUAT, Pantnagar (2011) and SVBPUAT, Modupuram (2007); Order of Sikatuna (Grand Cross, Gold Distinction), Government of the Philippines (2015); Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand, 5th Class ("King's Medal") (2017)

Fellow: American Phytopathological Society; American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Research Areas: Plant pathology, sustainable disease management practices and disease resistance in rice; agricultural research and development management in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the US.

Address: Director General (Emeritus), International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, 4031, Laguna, Philippines; [Tel: Off. 63-2-5805618, 5805600; Fax: 63-2-8920354, 5805699; Email: bob@zeiglermail.net]