John Keith Syers (1939 – 16 July 2011) was an Anglo-New Zealand academic and academic administrator. Academic career After a PhD at Durham University Syers spend two years working with T.W. Walker at Lincoln University before moving to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He moved to Massey University in 1972 to head the new Soil Science department. He primary interest was nutrient cycling in farmland. In 1985 Syers moved to Newcastle University. Selected works Efficiency of soil and fertilizer phosphorus use reconciling changing concepts of soil phosphorus behaviour with agronomic information The sustainable management of vertisols Nutrient management for sustainable crop production in Asia References External links google scholar institutional homepage New Zealand soil scientists British soil scientists University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty Lincoln University (New Zealand) faculty Academics of Newcastle University Massey University faculty 1939 births 2011 deaths Alumni of King's College, Newcastle