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Name:
Narelle
Role Title: Pathologist
Location: Institute for
Horticultural Development (IHD) in Knoxfield
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Narelle
is a pathologist at IHD, starting work there three
days after her last exam in 1997. Narelle grew
up and went to school in Melbourne, then studied
Agricultural Science at the University of Melbourne.
She changed her preference from Science to Agricultural
Science after reading about it and the DNRE Cadetships
at a University Open Day in Year 12. Narelle realised
the range of opportunities the course offered,
and once at Uni. found the course both challenging
and very interesting.
At
IHD Narelle works on three different horticulture
projects. One involves the investigation of diseases
in horticulture crops, particularly apples, which
may be linked to weather conditions.
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Narelle's time is about equally divided between
laboratory work, time at the desk and fieldwork |
Through
modelling with computer technology and other methods,
the research aims to forecast possible disease outbreaks,
and ultimately to reduce the level of chemical spraying
as farmers will need to spray only when certain conditions
prevail. Narelle’s second project has been approved
for her Ph.D research so she is commencing that in July
1999. It involves the genetics of diseases and the effects
on horticulture crops. The final project is aimed at
improving the storage life of fruit, eg. tomatoes, particularly
to increase the volume of exports of fresh produce.
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With
this range of projects, Narelle’s working
environment varies too. Her time is about equally
divided between laboratory work, time at the desk
and fieldwork, mainly in the Goulburn Valley and
east of Melbourne around Pakenham and in the Yarra
Valley.
Narelle
is investigating diseases in horticulture crops,
particularly apples, which may be linked to weather
conditions.
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During
her course, Narelle had work experience placements in
DNRE Institutes at Rutherglen, Ellinbank near Warragul,
Horsham and Ovens near Myrtleford and her 4th
year project was undertaken at Knoxfield so she developed
an extensive overview of career paths in Agricultural
Science.
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