postgraduate agricultural education - the uwa institute of agriculture
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Dr Natasha TeakleSchool of Plant Biology and Centre for Ecohydrology , UWA
Dr Teakle grew up on a farm in the wheatbelt town of Cunderdin. She has always been interested in helping with y p gthe salinity problem.
She did my BSc in agriculture at UWA and completed her PhD at UWA in 2008. Her doctoral research involved studies of salinity and waterlogging tolerance in perennial Lotus species.
Dr Teakle joined the Centre for Ecohydrology in January j y gy y2007. Natasha’s current position as a Research Scientist with the Centre for Ecohydrology focuses on developing saltland pasture systems for productive and sustainable rehabilitation of saline land.
At the end of last year she was one of 13 industry winners of the Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 2009. She won the
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
g , yAustralian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) award.
The UWA Institute of
AgricultureAgriculture
2010 Industry Forum2010 Industry Forum
Mastering the future of postgraduate g p gagricultural education
Natasha Teakle Centre for Ecohydrology and
School of Plant BiologyThe UWA Institute of
Agriculture
gy
Outline
• My background and interest in Agriculture• My background and interest in Agriculture• BSc Agriculture UWA• PhD in Plant Biology• Life after the PhD• Life after the PhD
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
C d diCunderdin: farmingfarming background
• 2 hours east of PerthWh d h• Wheat and sheep
• Third generation farmers• ~9500 acres cropped• ~9500 acres cropped
(half leased land)• ~1500 ewes
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
Salinity problem
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
BSc in Agric lt reBSc in Agriculture The University of WA
WHY?
My expectations and how they changed
Highlights and lowlights
4th year honours critical
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
BSc in AgricultureBSc in Agriculture 4th year honours project critical
• Practical scientific skillsPractical scientific skills• Critical thinking• Communication skills• Industry supervision• Industry supervision• Outcome: development of students ready
for employment• Student transformation observed as
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
Student transformation observed as supervisor
After the BSc Ag: R h ffiResearch officer
• Job opportunity from honours projectp j
• State Biotechnology Centre (DAFWA, Murdoch Uni)(DAFWA, Murdoch Uni)
• Molecular markers for improving wheat qualityimproving wheat quality
• All research officers and t h i l t ff f ltechnical staff female
• Highlighted the need for a
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
PhD to advance in research
PhD in Plant Biology
WHY?WHY?
Expectations and how they were metExpectations and how they were met
Highlights and lowlightsHighlights and lowlights
Collaborations essentialCollaborations essential
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
PhD in Plant BiologyPhD in Plant Biology
• Salt and waterlogging tolerance in perennial pLotus
• Industry supervisor –y plinks created
• Salinity CRC affiliationy• International experience
– creating contacts and gskills development
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
University of Glasgow, Scotland• 12 months research• Molecular biology training
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
Lotus tenuis in Argentina• Different farming systems
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
The Postgraduate Experienceg p
• Research training skills development #1Research training, skills development #1– But in reality publications essential for future
employment in researchemployment in research• FNAS networking: e.g. seminars, Rotto
summer school, IOA Postgrad forum• Industry exposure critical• Industry exposure critical
– Perspective and future employment• Reasons for doing a PhD vary greatly and
this impacts on the experienceThe UWA Institute of
Agriculture
p p
Life after PhDLife after PhD• Current position: 3 year post-Current position: 3 year post
doc Centre for Ecohydrology with Ed Barrett-Lennard andwith Ed Barrett Lennard and Tim Colmer
• Salt and waterlogging tolerance• Salt and waterlogging tolerance in pastures8 wks/yr teaching at Univ• 8 wks/yr teaching at Univ. Sydney
• Industry and international collaborations
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
Melilotus siculus, ‘Messina’
• Daniel Real, FFI CRC/DAFWA• Phil Nichols FFI CRC/DAFWA• Phil Nichols, FFI CRC/DAFWA• Andy Craig, FFI CRC/SARDI• Andre Lauchli, UC Davis• Brian Atwell, Sydney• Lindsay Campbell, Sydney
St T Ad l id• Steve Tyerman, Adelaide• Mark Tester, Adelaide• Matt Gilliham AdelaideMatt Gilliham, Adelaide• Sergey Shabala, Tasmania• Maren Friesen, USC Los Angeles • Andre Lauchli, UC Davis• Erik Von Wettberg, Miami
Ol P d C h D k• Ole Pedersen, Copenhagen Denmark• Tim Flowers, Sussex UK• Anna Amtmann Scotland
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
Anna Amtmann, Scotland
Life after PhDLife after PhD• Current position: 3 year post-Current position: 3 year post
doc Centre for Ecohydrology with Ed Barrett-Lennard andwith Ed Barrett Lennard and Tim Colmer
• Salt and waterlogging tolerance• Salt and waterlogging tolerance in pastures8 wks/yr teaching at Univ• 8 wks/yr teaching at Univ. Sydney
• Industry and international collaborations
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
• Outreach work e.g. SIS, Women in Science
Melilotus siculus, ‘Messina’
Kununurra Women in Science TourKununurra Women in Science Tour with WA Chief Scientist Lyn Beazley
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
Future for agricultural educationBS-BSc
• Attracting different types of students• Industry experience component• Students need to be treated as payingStudents need to be treated as paying
customers!E l t d d d i it• Employment-ready undergrads priority
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
Future for agricultural education-Postgraduate
• Finding good students and being able toFinding good students and being able to pay them competitivelyLi ki i t ti l t d t ith l l• Linking international students with local industry
• Lack of local employment opportunities post-PhD may affect enrolmentspost PhD may affect enrolments
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture
ConclusionConclusionO erall er positi e• Overall very positive postgrad experience in agriculture
• Key reasons:Key reasons: industry and internationalinternational collaborations
The UWA Institute of
Agriculture