Key points
- Sarah Rich is studying how plants grow and develop below the surface to respond to the changing environment.
- A focus for Sarah's research is on drought resilience and how we can help reduce the impacts of droughts in Australia.
- She says diverse perspectives and approaches to challenges are essential for tackling new scientific problems.
Sarah Rich is shining a light on what’s happening to plants below the soil. Sarah works as an Agriculture & Food research scientist and studies how plants grow and develop, especially their roots.
She looks at how things like genetics, where they’re planted, and how they’re managed affect their growth. Sarah is especially interested in how roots work and how they help plants thrive.
“Part of my passion for roots comes from how responsive they are – they’re a pain to study, but fascinating,” Sarah says.
“Given my interest in belowground processes, I do more hole digging and washing soil out of the roots than you’d think."
Shifting rainfall patterns
A focus for Sarah’s research is on drought resilience and how we can help reduce the impacts of droughts in Australia. She says one big challenge for Aussie farmers face is the speed at which things, like rainfall patterns, are shifting.
Bureau of Meteorology statistics show annual rainfall is already below average in parts of Australia. Based on measured drying trends across Australia, the Bureau expects more frequent and severe droughts.
A changing climate presents significant issues, but it also offers us the chance to develop innovative solutions. By studying plant environmental response and farming systems, Sarah is helping Australian agriculture stay resilient in changing climates.
Part of her work includes investigating how soil moisture affects crop establishment (essential to their successful growth). She also explores how changing climates affect rainfall for crops.
"Sometimes I’m thinking about individual seeds, or a plant’s root system. Other times, it’s a whole crop as part of a year-on-year rotation," Sarah says.
"Depending on the season, I may be running experiments in the glasshouse or visiting field trials across the grain growing regions.
"I’m fortunate to have a good balance of hands-on science research alongside the brilliant technicians I works with."
Sowing deeper underground
Modern science is based in creative, problem-solving, thinking. Sarah says she’s fortunate to work with a huge diversity of people.
"Different perspectives and approaches to problems are essential for tackling new scientific problems," Sarah says.
"Several colleagues have helped me to question the world in different, broader ways, and helped shape how I approach science.
"Farmers, for example, are amazing, they have a broad knowledge base, willingness to try new things, and often make astute inputs into research projects."
The dynamic nature of science means Sarah, like other researchers, often juggle diverse projects to secure funding. This demands mental flexibility, opening opportunities for new discoveries and fresh perspectives.
One of those opportunities is in investigating how deep sowing can offer farmers flexibility, instead of waiting for the rains.
"I’m currently looking at when, where and how often deep sowing can help seedlings establish and plant roots better access soil water," Sarah says.
"By analysing soil water and temperature, our research is showing how these factors impact growth and crop establishment with increased depth of sowing."
Following your own light
"On our journeys through life, we all have different careers that balance our interests and talents and outside lives. That’s why following your own path is important," Sarah says.
Professionally, Sarah hasn’t always been an agricultural researcher. She used to shine a different kind of light. Until she found her calling in science in her mid-20s, Sarah worked in the arts industry as a theatre lighting electrician.
"I’m a firm believer in if you enjoy your work, then you’re successful, regardless of what it is or at what level," Sarah says.
"Find an aspect of science you enjoy, follow it, and try not to worry about the stereotypical measurements of success."
Sarah’s love of the arts flows into her passion for science.
"Diana Scherer is an artist making amazing textiles and sculptures from plant roots. She’s growing grass onto complex moulds, and the interlacing roots follow the form to create incredible artworks," Sarah says.
"Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey grow grass under varying light conditions, creating huge, detailed grass portraits.
“They’re exploring light-induced chloroplast development, but in a far more creative way than I did in my PhD!”