Professor Tim George, Deputy Director of The International Barley Hub (IBH) at The James Hutton Institute, has been appointed as President of the International Society of Root Research (ISRR),in recognition of his expertise and global reputation in soil and root science.

The six-year tenure, which was confirmed earlier this month at the ISRR’s AGM in Leipzig, will see Prof George lead the global organisation, which has over 1000 members from the root research community.

He was elected through a process of peer nomination and voting by the ISRR’s international committee, and will further the work of the organisation to promote collaboration and communication between root researchers across the globe.

Prof George has been working for 25 years as a plant physiologist and soil scientist specialising in the dynamics of nutrients in the rhizosphere – the zone of chemical, biological, and physical influence generated by root growth. He also has a distinguished track record in leading teams of scientists in projects funded by the European Union and UK Research and Innovation, and is a board member of the European Plant Sciences Organisation (EPSO).

Speaking on this new role, Prof George said: “It’s an honour to have been elected by my peers to take on the role of President of the International Society of Root Research, and I hope to raise the profile of this hidden half of plants.

“Clarifying the root’s role in solving some of the world’s most pressing problems such as climate change mitigation and adaptation is extremely important, and I look forward to spreading the news about the great research being carried out by some of world’s root scientists in this critical area of research which has ramifications for global food security and environmental sustainability.”