Rod Rice is a naturalist and explorer, wild life photographer, highly qualified horticultural botanist and internationally published botanical author specializing in the floristic morphology and systematics of wild orchids. Rod is also the founder and editor of the occasional scientific publication "Oasis The Journal" dedicated to wild orchids and further had been an Honorary Research Associate to the Orchid Herbarium Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney from 2003 until the recent temporary closure (September 2019) of the herbarium (due to reopen sometime around 2022-23) from where and independently he has worked with other scientists from around the globe. However, Mr Rice currently holds the position of "State Curator of Wild Orchids " for Sabah Parks - North Borneo Malaysia. Mr Rice has also consulted for the 'United Nations Environment Program' for projects in northern Laos and western China. Rod is further, the founder (along with his late wife "Noi") of the now closed "Kanchanaburi Orchid Species Research Station" West Thailand and has refereed a number of scientific papers including for the Kew Bulletin. He has published more than 120 articles, books and scientific papers on the Orchidaceae including the books; "Gongorana - Infrageneric Review of the Genus Gongora (Orchidaceae)" (2003) and "A Preliminary Checklist and Survey of the Subtribe Aerangidinae (Orchidaceae)" (2005); "Wild Orchids, Birds & Dragonflies of West Thailand" (2017); "Vandoid Orchid Genera in Asia"(2018); and many scientific papers and articles and well known for his expertise on the orchid genera Gongora and Renanthera and systematics of the vandaceous orchids and subtribe Coelogyninae. Rod's photos have also appeared in a number other important publications by different authors including "Checklist of Papuasian Orchids", the 'Orchidaceae' volumes in "Flora of Thailand", "A Guide to Dendrobium of Borneo" (2013) and "Dendrobium of Borneo" (2014). Rod has a keen interest in our environment generally and other interests include climbing and aquatic plants, soft wooded perennials, birds, frogs, turtles, dragonflies and designing eco gardens and the use of orchids as permanent fixtures in gardens for warm temperate climates which includes educating the general public on the benefits of bio-indicators of environmental health and large scale conservation and education projects that work with our environment to assure longevity and long term stable employment through correctly conducted eco tourism and scientific research. Mr. Rice is currently involved in the preparations for a planned botanical eco sanctuary and fresh water turtle species conservation and rescue centre in Northern Borneo and another in North Vietnam.