Bernard Slippers is the Director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria. He is also involved in science development through the Young Academies, Africa Science Leadership Programme and the UP Future Africa initiative that he leads. He is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology. Bernard does research in Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology, with focus on the management of insects and micro-organisms that affect plant health. He has received wide recognition for his research, including a President's Award and most recently a B1 rating from the South African National Research Foundation. He has published more than 200 papers, an edited book and a number of book chapters.