New Entomology capacity for TPCP/CTHB
Bernard Slippers
Bernard Slippers recently joined the TPCP/CTHB programme as a senior lecturer at the University of Pretoria, officially starting in October 2005. Bernard is not unknown to TPCP members,
because he completed his postgraduate studies in the TPCP. His M.Sc. research dealt with the fungal symbiont of Sirex. In order to broaden his experience, he chose to undertake a Ph.D.
project on a very different topic, namely Botryosphaeria canker and die-back pathogens of trees.
After his Ph.D. at the end of 2003, Bernard, his wife Jana and daughter Yvonne left for a postdoctoral project at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The project, jointly funded by the SKYE Foundation, the National Research Foundation (SA), a bilateral agreement between the governments of Sweden and South Africa, and Forestry South Africa dealt with various aspects of the biology of the Sirex-fungal symbiosis. In the process he had the opportunity to work with a number of recognized scientists on this topic, as well as various other forest entomology and pathology projects.
Bernard’s studies and involvement with a diversity of projects in the group have brought him into contact with both the forest entomology and forest pathology fields. While he views specialized work in these two fields as essential, the interaction of these organisms and their simultaneous study is a specific passion. Bernard continues to be involved in Botryosphaeria related projects within the programme. However, in recent times he has increasingly been involved in forest entomology related projects. Currently he is also supervising projects dealing with Gonipterus, the Cossid moth and Thaumastocoris. His most prominent current focus is, however, as part of the team studying the Sirex woodwasp, its fungus and biological control agents, in an attempt to better understand and control this major pest.
After his Ph.D. at the end of 2003, Bernard, his wife Jana and daughter Yvonne left for a postdoctoral project at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The project, jointly funded by the SKYE Foundation, the National Research Foundation (SA), a bilateral agreement between the governments of Sweden and South Africa, and Forestry South Africa dealt with various aspects of the biology of the Sirex-fungal symbiosis. In the process he had the opportunity to work with a number of recognized scientists on this topic, as well as various other forest entomology and pathology projects.
Bernard’s studies and involvement with a diversity of projects in the group have brought him into contact with both the forest entomology and forest pathology fields. While he views specialized work in these two fields as essential, the interaction of these organisms and their simultaneous study is a specific passion. Bernard continues to be involved in Botryosphaeria related projects within the programme. However, in recent times he has increasingly been involved in forest entomology related projects. Currently he is also supervising projects dealing with Gonipterus, the Cossid moth and Thaumastocoris. His most prominent current focus is, however, as part of the team studying the Sirex woodwasp, its fungus and biological control agents, in an attempt to better understand and control this major pest.
