Ferguson, Ken, 1921-2011

Veterinary scientist. Kenneth Adie (Ken) Ferguson was born in Sydney in 1921 and died in June 2011. Ferguson's work on the direction of genetics research in Australia was critical but controversial, emphasising nutrition for the animal rather than purely quantitative genetics as a determinant of success. He studied and was a researcher and teacher in the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Sydney, 1938-1947. He went to Cambridge University in 1948 to commence Ph.D. research on the role of the pituitary gland on wool growth of sheep, returning to Australia in 1952 as a research scientist with CSIRO at Prospect, New South Wales, until 1973. Ferguson was the chairman, Animal Research Laboratories, CSIRO, based in Canberra, 1973-1978, and director, Institute of Animal and Food Sciences, CSIRO, 1978-1986 retiring in 1986 to become consultant to Peptide Technology Ltd., 1986-1993. Ferguson was made a Fellow of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in 1974, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 1976, and contributed significant work with the Human Pituitary Advisory Committee from 1965-1988. Ken Ferguson was the nephew of Sir John Ferguson, compiler of Bibliography of Australia.