National Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Dr. Hugh W. Pritchard
FOREIGN FELLOW, ELECTED 2021

Born in St Asaph, Wales, UK, 10 May 1957. Educated at: Flint High School (1969-1975); Univeristy of Leicester, England, UK (1975-1978); University of East London, England, UK (1978-1981); BSc (Hons), 1978; PhD, 1983.

Professor and Head of Seed Biology Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, 2022 to date.

Post-doctoral Scientist, 1982-1989; Senior Scientist, 1990-2000, and Principal Scientist (2000 - 2022), Senior Science Team (2006 - 2014), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK.

Awards/Honours: Honorary Professor, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany (2008 - 2022), University of Sussex (2009 - 2017); Visiting Professor, Jilin Agricultural University, China (1996 - 1999), University of Bedfordshire, UK (2004-2012), Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2018 -) // Natural Environment Research Council Peer Review College (2012 - 2022), United States Department of Agriculture Genebank Science Reviewer (2008-2023), Crop Trust Genebank Reviewer (2013-2024) // Editor, Annals of Botany (1994-2001); Editor, CryoLetters (2000 -) and Executive Editor (2019 - ); Editor, Biology (2019 - 2022 ); Review Boards: Seed Science Research (2013 - ), Special Editor, Plant Biology (2018-2019) `Natural Capital from Native Seeds', Guest Editor, Plant Diversity (2024- ) ‘Trait Diversity in Recalcitrant Seeds” // International Seed Testing Association, Chairman of Seed Storage Committee (2007-2019); International Society for Seed Science, Founding Trustee (1999 -), Treasurer (1999-2002); Society for Low Temperature Biology, Trustee (2014 -), Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer // Member of the Reform Club (London, 2009 - 2024), Economics and Current Affairs Group.

Fellow: Academy of Science of South Africa (2007 -), Linnean Society of London (2006 – 2024), Royal Society of Biology (2004 -), Honorary Fellow, Writtle Agricultural University (2012); Distinguished Scientist of the Botanical Society of China (2023); Honorary Life Member, International Society for Seed Science (2023).

Research Areas: Comparative seed biology, seed quality, plant cryobiotechnology, plant conservation and seed banking, international science policy, plant genetic resources conservation programme advice and evaluation

Address: Science Leader, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Kunming, Yunnan; [Tel: Cell: (+44) 4794 9696485; Email: hwp@mail.kib.ac.cn; h.w.pritchard@btinternet.com]