ANU congratulates distinguished scientist and ANU Professor Graham Farquhar AO for being named the 2018 Senior Australian of the Year.

Professor Farquhar represented the ACT for the national Senior Australian of the Year Awards announced ahead of Australia Day.

Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Harding said the national recognition was a great honour for Professor Farquhar.

"On behalf of the University, I want to thank Graham for his work during his distinguished career and his ongoing contribution to environmental and food sciences," Professor Harding said.

"He sets a great example to the next generation of scientists."

The Senior Australian of the Year award caps a series of accolades for Professor Farquhar in recent years.

In 2017 Professor Farquhar, from the ANU Research School of Biology at the College of Science, was the first Australian to win the prestigious 2017 Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences.

He was recognised for his work in plant biophysics and photosynthesis, which has involved research on water-efficient crops and the impacts of climate change.

In 2015 he won the Prime Minister's Prize for Science and in 2014 he shared Britain's prestigious Rank Prize with CSIRO colleague Dr Richard Richards.

Professor Farquhar first came to ANU as an undergraduate, completing his Bachelor of Science in 1968. He returned to the University to complete his PhD in Environmental Biology in 1973.

He was appointed a Distinguished Professor at the ANU Research School of Biology in 2004.