International contributions

Significant scientific contributions made by scientists from around the world were highlighted at a special seminar at Horsham’s Grains Innovation Park.

Last week’s ‘Day of International Scientists’ seminar was conceived by GIP staff from diverse cultural backgrounds who have re-located to Horsham to live and work.

As well as being a learning opportunity, the seminar was a social event with a cultural diversity theme.

The park’s staff is made up of more than 20 people who originate from a diverse range of countries including the United States, Bangladesh, China, Croatia, England, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Romania and Vietnam.

These people contribute to science within the areas of virology, entomology, pathology, germplasm improvement, pulse breeding, plant phenotyping, grains and soil chemistry and agronomy, on a range of crops including wheat, barley, canola, field pea, lentil, chickpea, faba bean and safflower.

Thursday’s seminar featured scientists representing their countries of origin, including Helena Smith and Piotr Trebicki from Poland, Sameer Joshi, India, Murray Hart, United Kingdom, Babu Pandey, Nepal, Denise Barbulescu, Romania and Garry O’leary, Australia.

Ms Barbulescu said the one-hour seminars provided insight into some of the scientific breakthroughs people commonly used in daily life and work.

“Many of these breakthroughs have come from the different countries that are represented at GIP and in Horsham,” she said.

The contributions made by international scientists who have worked at Grains Innovation Park in the past 50 years will also be a major highlight of golden anniversary celebrations later this year.

• Story, page 17.