Alan J. M. Baker gained a BSc in Botany (1970) and PhD in Plant Ecology (1974) from Imperial College, London. Subsequently he was appointed Independent Research Worker in the Unit of Comparative Plant Ecology (NERC), University of Sheffield, UK, then Lecturer in Botany 1976-1992, Senior Lecturer in Plant Ecology 1992-1995 and Associate Professor in Environmental Science in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield (1995-2000). Since October 2000, he has been Professor of Botany (Ecology and Environmental Science) at the University of Melbourne, Australia. He is also Visiting Professor in the Institute for Natural Resources and Waste Management at Hong Kong Baptist University. He was elected Fellow of the Linnean Society of London (FLS) in 1985, Fellow of the UK Institute of Biology (FIBiol, CBiol) in 1994 and is a Founder Member of the UK Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (MIEEM). Professor Baker is an international authority on ecological and evolutionary aspects of the impact of heavy metal pollution on plants. His research focus over the last 13 years has been the development of phytoremediation technology for the decontamination and stabilization of metal-polluted soils and effluents, and phytomining. He has also been involved in projects on geobotanical and biogeochemical mineral exploration, revegetation and restoration of toxic metalliferous mine wastes, pollution monitoring and problems arising from trace element contamination of the environment. In addition to extensive work experience in Europe, Australia and the USA, he has worked in many developing countries including The Philippines, New Caledonia, Sri Lanka, PR China, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre), Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba and Chile. He is the author of more than 120 scientific papers and articles and 120 conference abstracts, and holds 6 patents.

Email address: ajmb@unimelb.edu.au