K P Barley Prize

In 1977, donations were made to the University from friends and former students of the late Keith Percival J. Barley, Reader in Agronomy in the University of Adelaide from 1955 to 1975 for the purpose of founding a prize in his memory.

The University established the K P Barley Prize, now valued at $4,500, awarded annually to a candidate for a postgraduate degree within the areas of agriculture and natural resource sciences in the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology.

Dr Barley was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Agricultural Science, the highest award in his field from the University of Melbourne in the year before his death. He joined the Waite Institute as a Lecturer in 1955 after graduating from the University of Melbourne in 1948 and working for several years at the CSIRO Deniliquin Laboratory in the Riverina of New South Wales.  He also spent a period at Cornell University as a Rotary Fellow.

Dr Barley was a brilliant scientist who made extensive, highly significant contributions in the understanding of soil-plant relationships.  Above all, he was a great teacher.  His advice was sought by all on a great range of scientific problems.  He was a founder of the Australian Council of Humanist Societies and also took an active part in forming the South Australian Council for Civil Liberties.  He was involved in both these organisations for much of his life.  He took an active interest in politics, and was keenly interested in theatre.

He was survived by his widow, Anne Levy AO, and two children.

Extract from Soil News, Australian Society of Soil Science Incorporated, March 1976