Felix Dapare Dakora

Felix Dapare Dakora, FAAS, FASSAf is a Ghanaian plant biologist investigating biological nitrogen fixation at the Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa. He currently serves as President of The African Academy of Sciences for the 2017-2020 term.[1][2] Dakora was awarded the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences and the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award.[3][4] Dakora is a Fellow of the Academy of Science of South Africa.[5]

Felix Dapare Dakora

FAAS, FASSAf
Born
Felix Dapare Dakora

(1952-11-14) 14 November 1952
Ghana
NationalityGhanaian
Alma mater
Known forStudy of legume/rhizobium symbiosis
AwardsUNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Science Award
Scientific career
FieldsBiological Nitrogen Fixation
InstitutionsTshwane University of Technology
Doctoral advisorCraig Atkins and John Pate

Academic career

Dakora studied Agriculture at the University of Ghana obtaining his BSc (Hons) degree in 1977. After a year at Ghana's Crops Research Institute he moved to the University of Sydney, Australia, to study Microbiology obtaining an MSc degree. Returning to Nyankpala in Northern Ghana to the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Dakora continued researching the role of symbiotic legumes in nitrogen fixation. In 1985 Dakora moved from Ghana to Perth, Western Australia to study for a PhD in Botany at the University of Western Australia, Perth. Following the award of his PhD in 1989, Dakora moved to the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C and later to University of California, Davis. In 1993 Dakora became a lecturer in the Botany department at the University of Cape Town. In 2002 Dakora became Professor & Executive Dean of Research Development and Technology Promotion, Cape Technikon, Cape Town. He holds a South African Research Chair in Agrochemurgy and Plant Symbioses at Tshwane University of Technology.

Research interests

Dakora first studied fast‐growing bacteria from nodules of cowpea at the University of Sydney.[6] Throughout his career Dakora has published over 400 papers covering the roles of legume signalling molecules, and legumes and their associated microbes which fertilize crops and are tolerant of drought, acidic and salty soils and high temperatures.[7][8][9] Dakora has also studied microbes which can help overcome micronutrient deficiency in Africa and methods of sustainable agriculture.[10]

Awards and honours

References
  1. "The African Academy of Sciences Inaugurates New President and Governing Council » Africa Oxford Initiative". Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  2. "Dakora Felix Dapare | The AAS". aasciences.ac.ke. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  3. "UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences". UNESCO. 2018-12-11. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  4. "2016 African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Science Awards presented to winners during the 28th AU Summit | African Union". au.int. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  5. "Members". www.assaf.org.za. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  6. Dakora, F.D.; Vincent, J.M. (April 1984). "Fast-growing bacteria from nodules of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)". Journal of Applied Bacteriology. 56 (2): 327–330. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.1984.tb01355.x. ISSN 0021-8847.
  7. Phillips, D. A.; Joseph, C. M.; Dakora, F. D. (1993-03-01). "Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Root Exudates Contain Isoflavonoids in the Presence of Rhizobium meliloti". Plant Physiology. 101 (3): 819–824. doi:10.1104/pp.101.3.819. ISSN 0032-0889. PMC 158695. PMID 12231731.
  8. Dakora, F. D. (1995). "Plant Flavonoids: Biological Molecules for Useful Exploitation". Functional Plant Biology. 22 (1): 87–99. doi:10.1071/pp9950087. ISSN 1445-4416.
  9. Dakora, F. D.; Keya, S. O. (1997-05-01). "Contribution of legume nitrogen fixation to sustainable agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa". Soil Biology and Biochemistry. International Symposium - Sustainable Agriculture for the Tropics: The Role of Biological Nitrogen Fixation. 29 (5): 809–817. doi:10.1016/S0038-0717(96)00225-8. ISSN 0038-0717.
  10. Dakora, Felix; Chimphango, Samson B. M.; Valentine, Alex J.; Elmerich, Claudine; Newton, William E. (2008-06-27). Biological Nitrogen Fixation International Biotechnology. ISBN 978-1402082511.
  11. "Dakora, Felix Dapare". TWAS. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  12. "中国工程院2019年院士增选结果" (in Chinese). Chinese Academy of Engineering. 2019-11-22. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
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