| Authorised form of name | Peacock; William James (1937-2025); molecular biologist |
| Dates | 1937-2025 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Place of birth | Leura, New South Wales, Australia |
| Date of birth | 14 December 1937 |
| Date of death | 21 October 2025 |
| Occupation | Molecular biologist and Geneticist |
| Research field | Plant genetics |
| Plant science |
| Biology |
| Molecular Biology |
| Activity | Education:
Katoomba High School; University of Sydney. BSc; PhD
Career:
CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellow (1963); Visiting Associate Professor of Biology, University of Oregon (1964-1965); Research staff, Division of Plant Industry, CSIRO (since 1965); Adjunct Professor of Biology, University of California, San Diego (1969); Visiting Professor of Biochemistry, Stanford University, USA (1970-1971); Visiting Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology, University of California, Los Angeles (1977); Chief Resident Scientist, Division of Plant Industry, CSIRO, Canberra (1977-1978); Chief, Plant Industry, CSIRO, Canberra (1978-2025).
Memberships:
US Academy of Sciences (Foreign Associate 1990); Indian National Science Academy (Foreign Fellow 1990); President of Australian Academy of Science, (2006)
Medals and Awards:
CSIRO Lifetime Medal of Achievement, for his unprecedented 25 year role as Chief of CSIRO Plant Industry (2005) |
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 18/03/1982 |
| Age at election | 44 |
| Relationships | Parents: W E Peacock
Spouse: (m. 18 February 1961) Margaret Constance Woodward |
| PublishedWorks | RCN 51733
RCN 15602
RCN 15603
RCN 15601 |
| OtherInfo | Responsible for the development of insect-resistant cotton in Australia, removing dependence on agrichemicals.
His achievements in plant science include the development of low-GI, high-fibre barley - of considerable value to human health. In collaboration with his research partner, Liz Dennis, Jim also made seminal contributions to vernalisation control of flowering and a new level of understanding of the mechanisms of hybrid vigour. |
| Source | Sources:
WWA1998
The Royal Society Fellows Directory, Dr William Peacock AC FRS, [URL: https://royalsociety.org/people/william-peacock-12064/; last accessed: 14/11/2025]
Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Peacock, William James (Jim) (1937 - 2025) AC FAA FRS FTSE, [URL: https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000699b.htm; last accessed: 14/11/2025] |
| Code | NA4162 |
Archives associated with this Fellow
| RefNo | Title | Date |
| IM/003464 | Peacock, William James | 1982 |
| EC/1982/29 | Peacock, William James: certificate of election to the Royal Society | 1977 |