Dr. David W.M. Leung_EPPH 2017

Biography
Dr. David W.M. Leung University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Biography: Associate Professor David Leung has supervised 18 PhD and 46 MSc research theses to completion at the University of Canterbury since 1990. His publications include one recently published ebook on phytoremediation edited by him, 13 book chapters and 91 peer-reviewed journal papers. He has also contributed an encyclopedia article on the biotechnology industry (In: Encyclopedia of Sustainability. Vol. 2 The Business of Sustainability, 2010 pp. 42-46, Chris Laszlo, ed. Berkshire Publishing, Great Barrington, USA.). In 2008, Associate Professor Leung delivered an invited talk at the 20th anniversary of Oxford Round Table held at Oxford University on “Climate Change and Global Sustainability Issues”. Associate Professor Leung’s research has revolved around various aspects of seed and whole plant biology covering topics including biofortification of potatoes with elevated levels of iron and development of safe food plants with low cadmium bioaccumulation potential. In late 1990, he initiated research into phytoremediation, a plant-based biotechnology to use plants to remediate degraded environments. He has published various papers on the topic of how plants can be used to help mitigate environmental concerns such as Pb and other toxic trace metals which pose public health concerns and threatens sustainability of clean water resources in many parts of the world. In 2014, he accepted the role of a guest topic editor with Frontiers in Plant Science (the largest open access plant science journal in the world with ISI journal impact factor of 3.6). Ten papers on the topic entitled “Implications of metal uptake and resistance in plants for phytoremediation, biofortification and food safety concerns” edited by Associate Professor Leung have been published in the Section of Plant Biotechnology of Frontiers in Plant Science. There have been more than 14,000 viewings of the topics and 3000 downloads [as of 30th Nov. 2015]. In 2016, Associate Professor Leung has begun as a co-editor of another research topic entitled “Phytomonitoring and phytoremediation of organic pollutants in the environment” in the section of Plant Biotechnology, Frontiers in Plant Science. Associate Professor Leung has also been a member of the mentor team of an AGMARDTfunded postdoctoral fellow (2013-2016) at the Lincoln University. In this project, studies have been carried out to better understand the dynamics of urea fertiliser in agricultural soils. The findings are expected to have significant implications for agricultural food production, global warming, greenhouse gas emission and soil conditioning. One of his PhD students is currently investigating the potential of using plant tissue culture to contribute to phytomanagement of petroleum pollution concerns.

Biography

Dr. David W.M. Leung
University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Biography:

Associate Professor David Leung has supervised 18 PhD and 46 MSc research theses to completion at the University of Canterbury since 1990. His publications include one recently published ebook on phytoremediation edited by him, 13 book chapters and 91 peer-reviewed journal papers. He has also contributed an encyclopedia article on the biotechnology industry (In: Encyclopedia of Sustainability. Vol. 2 The Business of Sustainability, 2010 pp. 42-46, Chris Laszlo, ed. Berkshire Publishing, Great Barrington, USA.). In 2008, Associate Professor Leung delivered an invited talk at the 20th anniversary of Oxford Round Table held at Oxford University on “Climate Change and Global Sustainability Issues”. Associate Professor Leung’s research has revolved around various aspects of seed and whole plant biology covering topics including biofortification of potatoes with elevated levels of iron and development of safe food plants with low cadmium bioaccumulation potential. In late 1990, he initiated research into phytoremediation, a plant-based biotechnology to use plants to remediate degraded environments. He has published various papers on the topic of how plants can be used to help mitigate environmental concerns such as Pb and other toxic trace metals which pose public health concerns and threatens sustainability of clean water resources in many parts of the world. In 2014, he accepted the role of a guest topic editor with Frontiers in Plant Science (the largest open access plant science journal in the world with ISI journal impact factor of 3.6). Ten papers on the topic entitled “Implications of metal uptake and resistance in plants for phytoremediation, biofortification and food safety concerns” edited by Associate Professor Leung have been published in the Section of Plant Biotechnology of Frontiers in Plant Science. There have been more than 14,000 viewings of the topics and 3000 downloads [as of 30th Nov. 2015]. In 2016, Associate Professor Leung has begun as a co-editor of another research topic entitled “Phytomonitoring and phytoremediation of organic pollutants in the environment” in the section of Plant Biotechnology, Frontiers in Plant Science. Associate Professor Leung has also been a member of the mentor team of an AGMARDTfunded postdoctoral fellow (2013-2016) at the Lincoln University. In this project, studies have been carried out to better understand the dynamics of urea fertiliser in agricultural soils. The findings are expected to have significant implications for agricultural food production, global warming, greenhouse gas emission and soil conditioning. One of his PhD students is currently investigating the potential of using plant tissue culture to contribute to phytomanagement of petroleum pollution concerns.